In my past life, I died in international waters. It was only after my death that I realized I wasn’t the elite family’s son who was switched at birth. I was just a stand-in to take the fall for the real son. My childhood friend, who climbed her way into the elite family by stepping over me, knew everything all along. She cozied up to the real son, smiling sweetly: “Asher’s life is worthless; dying for you is his blessing!” I mistakenly believed that my biological parents, who betrayed me, would seek justice for me, but they were brutally silenced. When I woke up again, my childhood friend excitedly grabbed me: “Asher, you’re going to be the elite family’s young master!” Fate gave me another chance to return to my past life. This time, I’m taking down that damned elite family. When the fake parents from the elite family came looking for me, I was still in class. Adeline brought them from home, looking thrilled: “Asher, you’re going to be the elite family’s young master!” Looking at her innocent face, I was momentarily dazed. Adeline and I were neighbors, and we grew up together. Her parents died in an accident when she was five. Her relatives treated her as a burden, passing her around. My parents pitied her and cared for her more than they did for me, their biological son. They always reminded me to protect Adeline and not let anyone bully her. Whenever that happened, Adeline would blush and remain silent. She told me as a child that she only wanted to marry me. I thought we were in love. So, I begged my fake parents to bring Adeline along, or I wouldn’t go with them. But as soon as we arrived at The Quinn Family, she ran into the real son Declan’s arms. Under Declan’s instigation, she knew I was just his stand-in but didn’t tell me the truth. Instead, she helped Declan trap me. In the end, I took the knife for Declan and was blown up by The Quinn Family’s enemies in international waters, with no remains left. Fighting back my overwhelming hatred, I closed my eyes, resisting the urge to confront her right there. Instead, I walked toward the luxury car parked at the door. Adeline hurriedly stopped me. “Asher! Are you leaving? Aren’t you forgetting something?” Seeing the expectation and anxiety in her eyes, I understood. Adeline had also been reborn.

I gave a cold smile and pretended not to know: “Yeah, is there something you want?” My indifferent tone left Adeline at a loss. She bit her lip hard, tears welling up in her eyes, looking pitiful: “Asher, can you take me with you…” I watched her playfully without speaking. Every second that passed, Adeline’s face turned a shade paler. After enjoying her embarrassment and shame, I stretched lazily: “Adeline, I’m now the elite family’s young master. With your status… bringing you along wouldn’t be appropriate, right?” Adeline’s face turned red and then white. I changed my tone: “However, if you really want to come back to The Quinn Family with me, it’s not impossible.” Her eyes lit up as if she saw hope. Greed and joy almost overflowed from her eyes. She obediently tugged at my sleeve: “Asher, I’ll do whatever you say! I’ll be good.” A hint of disgust flashed in my eyes as I pulled my sleeve away: “Fine, The Quinn Family shouldn’t mind having one more servant. I’ll talk to the butler to find you some cleaning work.” Adeline’s smile froze, and she looked at me in shock. In the previous life, I willingly cherished her, took her to The Quinn Family, and treated her like a treasure, afraid others would bully her. Now, she wants to enter The Quinn Family, but she can only be a cleaning servant. The difference is like night and day. How could Adeline bear this disparity? I didn’t look at her again and turned to leave. She stopped me: “Wait!… I’ll go!” I was a bit surprised. After shock and embarrassment, Adeline still bit her lip and followed. To enter the elite family, she really was enduring humiliation. I forced a smile: “Adeline, are you sure you want to come to The Quinn Family?” Adeline had already controlled her expression, obediently and aggrievedly “hmm”ed. But the resentment in her eyes didn’t escape my notice. I chuckled coldly inside. Since she wants to dig her own grave, she can’t blame anyone else.

The Quinn Family is a true elite family, living on an estate with over a hundred servants. Adeline and I were welcomed inside, and the fake parents and Declan were already waiting. The Quinns put on an impressive show, shedding tears and showing concern upon seeing me. They also mentioned they would soon send Declan abroad, telling me not to worry. Ha, of course, only after I die. Before I could say anything, Adeline, who had been staring at Declan since entering, suddenly spoke up. Her voice was soft, and her face slightly red: “Uncle, Auntie, Asher has been kind and filial since childhood. He definitely wouldn’t want you to be separated from Declan.” The fake parents were stunned and asked who she was. Declan also turned to look at Adeline. I spoke disdainfully: “Oh, she’s a neighbor of mine, eager to come to The Quinn Family as a servant. Dad, Mom, let the butler arrange some work for her.” Adeline’s face turned pale, almost twisted. The Quinns exchanged a glance, showing some disdain. Declan’s gaze turned blatant. In his eyes, Adeline was nothing but someone willing to degrade herself to cling to the powerful. In the previous life, it was because of how much I valued and cared for Adeline that The Quinn Family considered her important. She was just a tool to control and manipulate me. Without my favor, The Quinn Family wouldn’t even look at her. Now seeing me disdain her and her desperate eagerness to stick around… Declan isn’t stupid, and The Quinns are even shrewder. Would they treat her kindly?

Adeline clearly didn’t grasp the situation and still saw herself as the pampered lady. On her first day, she started causing trouble. The butler cautiously observed my reaction: “Young Master Asher, Miss Adeline said you know she can’t live with others and wants us to arrange a single room for her. According to the rules, regular servants can only stay in four-person rooms, but since Miss Adeline is someone you brought, as long as you say…” “Ignore her,” I said lightly. “She loves being difficult. Arrange her as you would any servant. If she doesn’t want to stay, let her leave.” Since childhood, my parents and I have pampered Adeline. When she first stayed in a school dormitory, she cried and fussed to go home, saying she couldn’t get along with her roommates. She cried so prettily, and my parents and I were heartbroken. Her vocational high school was far from home, and my comprehensive high school had heavy coursework, but I still got up an hour early every day to take her to school and picked her up at night. Through scorching summers and freezing winters, I never complained. Thinking of this, I called the butler again: “Also, give her the dirtiest and most tiring work. If it’s not done, she doesn’t eat.” I let my disgust show. The butler, a shrewd old fox, naturally knew how to “take care” of Adeline. That day, as I was about to leave, I saw Adeline ordering another maid to scrub the tiles. “Mrs. Lee, make sure it’s clean, here, and there. Didn’t I say it needs to be scrubbed three times with clean water? Finish before lunch, and be quick!” A younger girl couldn’t stand it: “Sister Adeline, this is your job. Why are you ordering Mrs. Lee?” Adeline stood up from the lounge chair and slapped the young girl. “Lowly servant, do you think you have the right to speak?! If I want your young master to go east, he wouldn’t dare go west. And you, a servant, dare to show me attitude? Fine, I’ll tell Asher, and you’ll pack your things and leave!” The young girl’s cheek swelled instantly, tears streaming down. Mrs. Lee tenderly touched the girl’s cheek, angry but not daring to speak out. Adeline was still smug: “I’m someone Asher cherishes. If I get hurt doing such rough work, and he gets heartbroken and angry, none of you will have it easy!” I watched coldly as she acted like the mistress, flaunting her power, and called the butler. Hearing my voice, Adeline quickly changed her expression, showing her red fingers pitifully. “Asher, they’re bullying me! They’re deliberately giving me the dirtiest and most tiring work! Look, my hands are red from the cold!” She habitually whined to me, hinting for me to punish others for her. Mrs. Lee and the young maid were visibly fearful. I ignored Adeline and frowned at the butler: “Adeline is slacking off and bullying other servants. She won’t eat today, and from now on, let her do the work for both of them. Also, no hot water for her.” Adeline was right in front of me, but I didn’t speak directly to her, nor did I even look at her. Instead, I issued her “punishment” through the butler, a blatant slap in the face. Her face turned various shades of pale, unable to maintain her weak and innocent act, and she burst out: “Asher, what do you mean?! How dare you order me around? Do you really think you’re the young master?” I glanced at her: “Talking back to the young master, slap her.” She was stunned. No one else reacted either. I signaled the young maid Adeline had slapped to come over. The girl was quick-witted, tears still on her face, and she slapped back hard. Adeline clutched her face, disbelief and humiliation overflowing, screaming: “Asher! Are you crazy?! How dare you let someone hit me!” I chuckled: “Because I’m now the young master of The Quinn Family, and you’re just a servant. Do I need to pick a day to hit you?” “Adeline, you begged me to bring you to The Quinn Family, remember?” Her lips trembled, unable to endure the humiliating and mocking gazes, and she ran off crying.

I thought Adeline would lay low for a few days. But I overestimated her. The little girl was sharp; despite tears on her face, she had already retaliated fiercely. Adeline held her face, disbelief and humiliation pouring out as she screamed: “Asher! Are you insane?! How dare you have someone hit me!” I laughed softly: “Because I’m now the young master of The Quinn Family, and you’re just a servant. If I want to hit you, I hit you. Why would I wait for a special occasion?” “Adeline, you begged me to bring you to The Quinn Family, have you forgotten?” Her lips trembled, and unable to bear the humiliation and mocking gazes from everyone, she ran off crying. 5 I thought Adeline would lay low for a few days. But I overestimated her. After just a few days of work, she couldn’t handle it anymore and found a way to get into Declan’s bed. In our previous life, she and Declan were like two peas in a pod and naturally hooked up. When I noticed she was skipping classes too much, I naively advised her to focus on her studies. Adeline had already latched onto Declan and didn’t even bother to pretend: “Asher, did you get into the elite family by studying hard? I’m not as fortunate as you. If I want a good life, I have to work hard in my own way.” Later, I understood. Her way was to latch onto an elite family and become a rich woman. As for why she didn’t choose me, Declan once asked her. At that time, she was in the kitchen having an animated conversation with Declan, and I happened to come downstairs for a drink of water, hearing her say sweetly: “I’m not blind. Anyone can see, Declan, you’re the real catch. Asher, even if he rises above his humble beginnings, is still just a poor phoenix at heart. How can he compare to your natural elegance?” She wasn’t wrong. Declan was indeed a true rich kid. But his elegance was built on the exploitation of countless ordinary people. Why would Declan be interested in someone as ordinary and poor as her? In the past life, Declan would even take her to high-end places for my sake, buy her designer bags, brands, jewelry, to appease her. Now she was just a lowly maid with some charm, and he had nothing to lose by playing around. Adeline climbed into bed at night and worked during the day. Once the other servants in The Quinn Family knew what she was, they shunned her mercilessly. Adeline, pampered and spoiled, fell ill after just a few days of this. Declan moved her into his room. Not out of pity, but because his troublesome friends were coming. 6 That day, Declan invited me to a private club to introduce me to his friends. The club was invitation-only, accessible only to VIPs. In the past life, he also invited Adeline and me, greatly satisfying her vanity. But I refused to let Adeline go, no matter what. Because I overheard Declan planning to entertain his troublesome friends. He was ready to use her as entertainment. On the phone, Declan’s tone was dismissive: “Someone like Adeline, you guys can do as you please with her.” I told her Declan was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. But Adeline didn’t believe me. Seeing us argue fiercely, Declan played the good guy instead: “Asher is just worried about you. Since he disagrees, Adeline, you better not go.” Adeline then completely broke with me: “Asher, who are you to control me? I only received a little care from your family, it’s not like I was sold to you as a child bride! I warn you, my business with Declan is none of your concern, so stop meddling!” So this time when Declan mentioned taking Adeline along, I wasn’t surprised and didn’t stop him. Adeline was taken aback for a moment, then a smug look quickly crossed her face as she anticipated a show. She remembered Declan intended to set a trap for me. But she didn’t know, Declan’s trap was not just for me. At this moment, Officer Sawyer secretly contacted me. 7 In the past life, I had some suspicions that The Quinn Family’s business wasn’t clean, and their money’s origin was unclear. The police had been watching The Quinn Family for a long time, but without solid evidence, they were afraid to alert them. At that time, Officer Sawyer tried to persuade me to cooperate with them to take down The Quinn Group’s illegal business operations. But I was too bewitched by Adeline and The Quinn Family, my mind wasn’t clear. By the time I realized, it was too late. So when Sawyer contacted me, I cooperated calmly, almost making her suspect I was a double agent. It looks like the text you intended to provide is missing. Could you please share the content that needs translation? ———-此处为截断点———-

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After my family went bankrupt, I started delivering food to make ends meet. I never expected to run into my lifelong rival while delivering to his house. To embarrass me, he said, “Kiss me, and I’ll give you 100,000 yuan.” Without hesitation, I grabbed his collar and kissed him hard. “How could you change like this for money?” he blushed, covering his mouth as if he were a vulnerable spouse. I pushed him down and kissed him again before leaving with the check he’d signed, leaving him stunned on the couch with a red face and clear teeth marks. Walking through the familiar villa area in my delivery uniform, I was filled with a mix of emotions. I knew this place so well I could find the door to 65-3 with my eyes closed, but now there was a big foreclosure notice on it. I glanced at it silently, then turned to the neighboring villa, took a deep breath, and rang the doorbell. “Hello, your delivery is here.” I used the professional tone I had practiced over the past few days. “Oh, Adeline, how did the Lin family’s eldest daughter end up doing this?” The person who opened the door was my childhood rival, Finn, whom I had bullied since we were kids. “Well, Finn, the eldest son of the Aiden family, why do you have to pick up your delivery yourself?” I regretted taking this order just for the high delivery fee. I snatched it up when I saw the 200 yuan fee, but only realized afterward that it was in the suburbs, dozens of kilometers from the city, where I used to live. I even had to change my electric scooter’s battery on the way here. “Hmph, even now you’re down and out, your mouth is still so sharp.” I didn’t want to engage with him, so I dropped off his expensive custom-made suit and turned to mark the delivery as complete. “Did I say you could leave? Did I confirm I received everything correctly? You know this is expensive, right? If anything happens to it, you couldn’t afford to compensate even if you delivered for a year. Aren’t you afraid I’ll complain about you?” Finn grabbed my hand, unwilling to let me go easily. “Mr. Aiden, your items have been delivered. Is there anything else? If not, could you please give a five-star rating? Thank you.” “A five-star rating? Does your attitude deserve a five-star rating?” “Sir, it’s fine if you don’t rate me well. Just please let go so I can make my next delivery. I’m running late.” Finn held my arm tightly, and I couldn’t break free. Reluctantly, I softened my tone, eager to escape. After all, I’d already wasted a lot of time on his delivery today. “And if I don’t let go?” Finn tightened his grip, glaring at me. I sighed and asked patiently, “What will it take for you to let me go?” “How about this: if you’re so short on money, kiss me, and I’ll give you 100,000 yuan.” He smiled smugly, expecting his words to provoke me. Unfortunately for him, he was wrong. I grabbed his collar with my free hand, pulled him close, and kissed him hard, even biting him in retaliation. His expression changed from superiority to panic. “How could you change like this for money?” His face turned beet red as he covered his mouth, looking vulnerable. I ignored his question, knocked him to the ground, and kissed him all over, satisfied as I got up. “That’s 10 kisses, 1 million yuan. Will you pay by transfer or check?” I shamelessly asked for my money. Finn, doubting his life choices, mechanically took out his checkbook. I filled in the amount, had him sign it, and left with the check, leaving him disheveled on the couch. I shook my sweat-soaked hair, put on my helmet, mounted my electric scooter, and continued taking orders. After all, 1 million yuan wasn’t nearly enough.

Three months ago, I was still a wealthy girl, returning home with a prestigious degree from abroad to the villa that is now long gone. I thought taking over my father’s business empire and making it bigger and better would be my goal. But upon returning, I learned my father’s company had gone bankrupt. To pay off debts, my father sold all our properties, including the villa I used to live in. Our family went from wealthy to penniless overnight, still owing lots of debt. Because my father’s reputation plummeted in the industry, it was hard for either of us to find respectable jobs. I, who was always proud, couldn’t accept being trampled on by the rich kids who had always been beneath me. The disparity in status hit me hard until I saw my parents doing odd jobs to repay the debt. I finally put my worthless pride aside. After all, staying alive was more important than being respected. But I didn’t completely give up. Even though I had a degree in finance from abroad, I refused to enter the business world where my father once fought, unwilling to work for those who wouldn’t lend a hand when he struggled. Out of options, I started delivering food. The once pampered young lady who never did manual work now climbed stairs and carried heavy loads for extra delivery fees. I went from a well-maintained, fair-skinned girl to someone who couldn’t stop getting tanned, even with a mask on. Many things had changed, including my old life. Finn’s order was the biggest I had received since starting food delivery. I thought it was fortune smiling on a fallen phoenix like me, but the order was left unclaimed because, to experienced couriers, it wasn’t worth as much as delivering five closer orders. I only figured this out later. When I returned to the familiar wealthy neighborhood, my status no longer matched. The security guards who had once nodded and bowed to me now waved me off in disgust, demanding I register before entering. Worse, I needed the owner’s permission to deliver. That’s how I ended up calling Finn. We never got along, and since childhood, we never spoke kindly to each other. When he saw my name on the caller ID, he instinctively answered with sarcasm. “Adeline, are you finally coming to beg me?” In the past, I would’ve snapped back and started a fight. But now, he was my VIP customer. One bad review from him, and I’d lose the hefty delivery fee for traveling so far. “Hello, ExtremeSwagMaster, I’m your delivery person. Could you let the security know to let me in?” When I called, I realized that ExtremeSwagMaster was Finn, who grew up with me. I thought my ties with him ended when my family fell from grace. Little did I know I’d return to this villa area within days of delivering food. And the order was Finn’s. I tried to keep my voice calm, waiting for his permission. It wasn’t that I felt ashamed. But wearing a delivery uniform, helmet, and being as tanned as I was, facing my childhood rival gave me a sense of unease. Moreover, Finn’s chosen name was more ridiculous than mine. This reunion was surprising for both of us. He took a while to let me deliver the order, even coming out to meet me, allowing me to earn 1 million yuan. He thought his joke would humiliate me, but for me now, only a fool wouldn’t take the money. This 1 million yuan is just a drop in the bucket for my family’s debts. I didn’t plan to accept this fortune comfortably. Owing Finn money is better than owing strangers. I thought of writing Finn an IOU if I had the chance. Even if I delivered food forever, I’d find a way to repay him. I didn’t expect our next meeting to come so soon.

Because of Finn, it took me over an hour to return to the city. Apart from the 1 million yuan and high delivery fee, I made nothing today. After the dinner rush, I ended my workday and rode my little scooter home. By the time I got back, my parents had already eaten, leaving my portion in a simple dish to keep warm. To save electricity, they only had one lamp on and were doing handicrafts together. During the day, my mom worked as a waitress, and my dad drove for a ride-sharing service. At night, they did crafts, planning to sell them at a stall once they had enough. This high-intensity life barely covered the rent for our shabby place, our daily expenses, and the monthly loan shark payments. I greeted them softly and sat down to eat. Mom had made bean sprouts and tomato tofu, and the plate was still half full. No matter how tough things got, they always tried to give me the best. I quickly finished my meal and went to join them. Such an intense lifestyle barely managed to cover the rent for this rundown house, our daily expenses, and the monthly visits from the loan shark. I greeted them softly and sat down at the dining table to eat alone. Today, Mom made stir-fried bean sprouts and tomato tofu. More than half was still left on the plate. No matter how tough life was, they always tried to give me the best. I quickly ate up the food and walked over to them. This was one of the few happy moments for our family of three since moving into this shabby house. I took out the 1 million check I got from Finn and gently placed it in front of Dad. Seeing the number, Dad’s eyes filled with panic as he grabbed my hand. “Tell me honestly, where did this money come from? Please don’t do anything foolish, Adeline. We can repay the money slowly. Don’t let this ruin your life!” Dad’s hand trembled with anxiety and worry. His eyes, once bright and confident, had become dim and cloudy, with tears barely held back. “Dad, don’t overthink it. I delivered food to Finn’s house today, and he gave this to me.” I left out the more delicate details about the 1 million when explaining it to Dad. “Alright, alright, as long as you’re okay.” Dad sat back down on the bench, trembling as he picked up the 1 million check again, letting out another sigh. “Finn has a good heart. Ever since our family had troubles, those so-called old friends of mine have avoided me completely. They even let you down. With your high education, you couldn’t even find a decent job. I’m sorry, my child.” I quickly stopped Dad from continuing. “Alright, Dad. Just think about how you plan to use this 1 million. I need to rest now.” I believed that in the hands of someone who once built such a powerful business empire, this money would be put to good use. I went to the less than 3-square-meter bathroom to wash away the day’s dirt and fatigue. I threw my yellow vest into the washing machine and took out a new one. Even though life had taken away my comforts, I still hoped to find solace in small details. I soon fell into a dreamless sleep, worrying about how to repay Finn. Little did I know that Finn’s troubles were not that simple. The next morning, to catch the breakfast delivery rush, I left early with a piece of bread in my mouth. I skillfully hopped on my electric scooter, opened the delivery app, quickly snagged a few orders I could handle, and rushed to pick up the food. So when Finn’s call appeared on my phone again, I hesitated. I didn’t know how to face someone I grew up with, especially after impulsively taking his 1 million. This call might be his way of addressing the situation. But the money was taken, and there was no way to avoid the matter. Finn’s persistent calls severely affected my delivery speed. I decided to just block him. But I underestimated Finn’s determination to find me. He placed countless errand orders on the delivery platform, each offering a 1000 delivery fee. His only requirement was for the delivery person to find a female delivery person named Adeline and personally deliver to his address. A 1000 delivery fee! Even a top delivery person couldn’t earn that in a day without eating or drinking. Usually, the order hall was emptier than my stomach, but today there were plenty of orders. I even had the luxury to choose. Just when I was happy about today’s influx, our team’s top delivery person contacted me. “Hey Adeline, this order seems to be looking for you.” After finishing my last order, I finally had time to check my phone and see the message he sent me. Seeing the familiar address, I felt faint. “You know, there are many such orders now. A lot of people are looking for you. You’ve been good to me, so can I take this one?” Before I could faint completely, the top guy sent another message. He really had been good to me, teaching me how to snag orders, showing me where to find delivery hotspots, and helping me navigate shortcuts in the city. The delivery folks I met were all kind-hearted, without prejudice or disdain. Their help allowed me to at least cover the cost of renting the battery and have some savings. “Alright, I’ll go with you.” If I didn’t go, Finn would find another way to find me. I might as well see what he wanted. “Thanks, Adeline. With this delivery fee, I can take two days off.” In just one day, I crossed the familiar yet distant place I once knew so well. 24 hours later, I stood before Finn again. His expression looked like he wanted to devour me, but the presence of the delivery guy stopped him from confronting me like we used to as kids. “Boss, is this the person you were looking for?” The delivery guy didn’t notice the tension in the air and asked eagerly. “Yes, it’s her.” “Okay, I’ll mark it as delivered. Thanks, boss. Thanks, boss. Adeline, I’ll head off now. With this 1000, I’m done for the day. You take care and don’t work too late.” “Thanks, man.” I smiled and waved him off. “Have you seen enough?” I turned around, and Finn was glaring at me with gritted teeth. “Master Finn, what’s the big fuss about looking for me? Let me clarify, yesterday’s money is spent, so if you want money, I don’t have it. But if you’re offering the same price as yesterday, I’ll try to earn more.” I grinned slyly, staring at yesterday’s handiwork. Finn still had marks on his neck from yesterday. Honestly, I did have feelings for Finn; otherwise, I wouldn’t have put so much effort into kissing him. “Adeline! How did you become such a scoundrel? You’re so gentle with the delivery guy, but so harsh to me. Not just harsh, but you also… took advantage of me.” “Master Finn, you said I get 10,000 for a kiss, and you didn’t say there’s a limit. It’s more the merrier. If you want more, I’m available.” Finn’s face turned beet red, filled with embarrassment and confusion. I knew what he wanted to ask, but this was the only way to make Finn hate me, to make him loathe me. I’m an insatiable void. Dad’s loan shark debt keeps growing, and the back pay hasn’t been settled. Now I owe Finn 1 million. I had no choice but to take the money because our shattered home couldn’t endure another visit from the loan shark. Finn remained silent, so I clenched my fists, resolved to approach him. “Master Finn, is there more business today? Or does it need some cuddling?” I teasingly whispered close to his ear. He had a familiar scent, a cologne I specifically brought back for him from abroad. He once mocked my taste, but the sharp fragrance now filled my nostrils with his tense breaths. He instinctively pushed me to the ground. “Adeline, enough! You…” His chest heaved violently, taking several breaths before suppressing his anger. “Master Finn, if you have no other business, I’ll leave. You’ve already taken up too much of my time.” I tried to sound cold and disagreeable, slowly getting up from the ground, brushing off nonexistent dust. “Wait, I have a new business proposition for you.” It looks like I didn’t receive the text you wanted me to translate. Could you please send it again so I can help you with it? 6 I looked into his serious eyes, unsure of what new plan Finn was concocting. “What?” Even though I was determined to cut ties with Finn, those sparkling eyes made it hard to say anything insincere.

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I was a renowned surgeon at Seaside Hospital. Three years ago, I fainted on the operating table due to an allergic reaction, and the patient couldn’t be saved from the excessive bleeding. As the lead surgeon, I was prosecuted and sent to prison because of the family’s influence, enduring three years of unimaginable torture. The day I was released, my husband and son came to take me home. I was moved by their unwavering support and loved them even more, never doubting their words. Until one day, I unintentionally overheard a conversation in the study between my husband and son: “Dad, when are you going to marry Aunt Nora? I don’t want a murderer as my mom.” “Enough. If you hadn’t put peanut powder in your mom’s food back then, causing her allergy, she wouldn’t have ended up in jail.” “I only did it because Aunt Nora lost the department head election to Mom. And Dad, you didn’t oppose it either.” My husband angrily slammed the table: “I told you never to bring this up again. If it weren’t for Nora being upset, I wouldn’t have agreed to your plan.” I stepped back, covering my mouth as tears streamed down. “Dad, do you really want Aunt Nora to be with someone else? Didn’t you say she would be my mom?” Declan hesitated, furrowing his brows. “Are you worried that woman will find out? Don’t worry, she’s so naive, she listens to us without question and won’t suspect anything. But Aunt Nora, if you don’t act soon, she’ll marry someone else.” My son tugged at his hand, seeking affection. Declan tapped his forehead with a mix of indulgence and worry, “For now, don’t let her find out. Nora needs to become Master Blake’s disciple and needs that acupuncture manuscript of hers. Once she hands it over…” He was interrupted by his son’s excitement: “Then we can be a family, and that murderer woman can go away.” “Keep your voice down, don’t let her hear.” My son nodded, covering his mouth: “Got it, Dad. You better explain to Aunt Nora. If it weren’t for that murderer, Aunt Nora wouldn’t have misunderstood us. I hate her so much, why didn’t she die in prison?” The child who usually wore an angelic smile now spoke with disdain and hatred. It seemed my existence was their biggest obstacle. Three years ago, I was confused and dragged to court due to a medical accident. A health report falsely stating I had no allergies sent me to prison. Declan and my son assured me they’d wait for me. During those three years in prison, I endured endless torture, with anyone in a bad mood taking it out on me. At the worst, eight of my ribs were broken. The monthly visitation day was my only hope. But Declan and my son never showed up. When I was released, my foster parents had passed away, and my former friends, classmates, and teachers distanced themselves. Everywhere I went, people pointed and whispered, and the mark on my wrist became my life’s label, always drawing ridicule. Thankfully, Declan and my son stayed by my side, encouraging me, giving me confidence and courage. They said that no matter what others thought, they’d never leave me, because I was their most loved one. And I made them the only light in my darkness, willingly becoming a housewife, taking care of them with all my heart. That became my best way to express my love. I never imagined that all my suffering was thanks to them! The love I felt was just a facade to help Nora. Tears welled up uncontrollably. At that moment, I couldn’t hold back any longer and fled. Back in the bedroom, the walls were covered with photos of Declan and me. From when I was seventeen to after we got married. Each photo held different memories. But gradually, someone else appeared in our photos. Nora was an intern I brought in. Wherever Declan was, she was there too. I warned Declan, but he dismissed it. He even said, “Adeline, do you lack confidence in yourself or doubt our relationship?” So after I dismissed my suspicions, they worked together to send me to prison. Even my child, whom I carried for ten months, wants me dead. I held my head in despair, their words echoing in my mind. The pressure in my chest made it hard to breathe, and tears kept flowing. On one side was the desperate truth, on the other, years of love and family ties. What should I do? I bit my lip hard, my body trembling in silent sobs. Declan and my son came in without me noticing. Seeing my tear-streaked face, my son jumped into my arms, nuzzling against me, and comforted me with practiced ease. Declan held me gently, murmuring softly: “Adeline, it’s okay. Just be yourself, I’ll handle the rest! My son and I will always be your support.” Feeling his tenderness, I couldn’t stop asking myself, can I really rely on them? If I hadn’t heard their conversation, I’d be happy, but now all I feel is trembling and nausea. If not for Nora, they wouldn’t have to act with me. Late at night, I booked a flight for the next day. I didn’t expect Nora to come to my house the next day. They were having a meal. My son sat beside her, acting spoiled, calling her mom. Nora looked at Declan with a shy smile. Declan lovingly stroked her hair. But in this beautiful, warm scene, I was the odd one out. Nora was the first to see me. She smiled brightly. “Oh, Adeline, sorry, I forgot you were here. Sit down, I’ll get you a bowl of rice.” Nora quickly returned, placing a white bowl in front of me, contrasting with their pink ones. I gripped my chopsticks so hard my knuckles turned white. I remembered when I had just come back, I grabbed those three bowls from the cabinet, and Declan got so angry. “Adeline, after being away for years, I’ll tell you what you can and can’t touch.” Even my son angrily dumped his food and hid the bowl like a treasure. Now I realized those were the bowls for their ‘family of three.’ Nora followed my gaze to the bowl, smirking, and spoke with satisfaction, “Adeline, don’t mind. This set of bowls was specially made by Declan for Lachlan. Kids like quirky things. Adeline, eat more, try my cooking. Declan and Lachlan say I cook well, give me your opinion.” Declan smiled, placing a chicken drumstick in her bowl, “Adeline won’t overthink. But you, don’t just care about others, eat more too.” My son pouted, pretending to be unhappy. “Dad is so biased, only nice to Aunt Nora. Why don’t you give me food?” Declan helplessly gave him another drumstick. “Just two drumsticks, one for you and one for Aunt Nora.” My son happily gnawed on the chicken, while Declan casually wiped the oil from Nora’s mouth. “Grown-up, yet eating like a messy cat.” Nora blushed, glancing at me, and pretended to be shy: “Adeline is here, don’t let her misunderstand.” “Adeline is understanding, not a little girl, she won’t get jealous or misunderstand.” I forced a bitter smile. They seemed like a family, while I, the real wife, was the unnecessary outsider. The next moment, Declan ordered with a justified tone, “Adeline, Nora is practically your half-student. She wants to apply for Acupuncture Master Blake’s disciple exam. I remember you have an ancient acupuncture manuscript, you don’t need it anymore, give it to Nora!” I’ve carefully kept that manuscript, it’s the only clue to my real family. He knows that. I clenched my fists, my voice hoarse and bitter, “That ancient acupuncture manuscript is the only token my birth mother left me, I need it to find her, how could you…” Declan’s face darkened, and his tone turned impatient. “After all these years, if your mother wanted to find you, she would’ve appeared. I’m helping you, so you won’t dwell on unrealistic things. This isn’t a discussion, I’ve promised it to Nora, get it out, the exam deadline is in three days, Nora needs to start studying.” Nora looked at me with a smug expression, “Adeline, Declan is doing this for your good, I think you should accept reality!” Yes, with everything laid out, what am I holding on to? I put down my chopsticks, stood up, and spoke slowly: “Declan, let’s get a divorce.” As soon as I said it, their faces changed. My son and Nora were full of joy. Declan, on the other hand, frowned in shock, then looked displeased. “Adeline, you’re divorcing over a manuscript? When did you become so unreasonable?” “Declan, don’t say that to Adeline. The manuscript is hers, it’s okay if she doesn’t want to give it to me, I’ll get in with my own efforts.” At this moment, Nora had already put on a pitiful look, tears in her eyes, pulling my arm. I set down my chopsticks, rose to my feet, and said quietly, “Declan, let’s get a divorce.” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, their faces changed. My son and Nora looked thrilled, while Declan seemed shocked, his brows knitting in displeasure. “Adeline, you’re asking for a divorce over some old book? Since when did you become so unreasonable?” “Declan, don’t speak about Adeline like that. The book is hers. If she doesn’t want to give it to me, that’s okay. I’ll earn it through my own efforts.” At this point, Nora had already adopted a pitiful demeanor, tears shimmering in her eyes as she grasped my arm. “Adeline, I know you’ve never really liked me. Now that you’re back, I shouldn’t be here in your home. But I truly care for Lachlan. If that’s how you feel, I won’t come anymore, and I don’t need the book. It’s all my fault. Please don’t divorce Declan because of me.” My son jumped off his chair and glared at me fiercely. “If you don’t like Aunt Nora, then you should leave. You’re just a murderer. What right do you have to dislike Aunt Nora?” Watching my seven-year-old son hitting me and shoving me to defend another woman broke my heart. Amid the struggle, Nora let out a scream and fell to the ground. The next moment, my son charged at me, head-first into my stomach. I stumbled several steps back, my head hitting the wall hard, pain blurring my vision. Before I could recover, Declan’s furious eyes met mine. He slapped me hard across the face, yanked my hair, and said coldly: “Adeline, how dare you, an ex-con, lay a hand on Nora? Apologize to her right now!” I endured the sharp pain in my scalp, stubbornly looking at the man who once cherished me. Back then, even if my eyes just welled up, he would feel guilty and comfort me for ages. But now? He would hit me for another woman. At that moment, I truly felt my heart shatter. “Declan, is this what you meant by having me rely on you?” Declan let go of my hair, a flicker of panic in his eyes, about to speak when Nora’s soft sobs interrupted. “Declan, Adeline, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have come between you. I’ll leave now!” My son clung to her hand, glaring at me as he spoke, “If anyone should leave, it’s you. I don’t have a murderer for a mother.” Declan also agreed with our son, “Adeline, it seems I’ve been too good to you. You should go out and clear your head. Think it over and then come back with the ancient manuscript for Nora. A useless person like you shouldn’t hold onto something so valuable.” When I was pushed out and the door shut, I clearly saw Nora give me a triumphant, mocking smile. I’m glad I discovered their true nature early on, so I’m not as devastated now. That place is no longer my home; staying would only make me feel sick. I sat outside all night. At dawn, I knocked on the door slowly. With a flight this afternoon, I have to retrieve my documents from the bedroom. Nora opened the door in a slip dress, deliberately adjusting her hair over her shoulder to reveal her neck and the trail of hickeys down to her chest. “Adeline, I’m really sorry. I wanted to come out to find you yesterday, but Declan was just too vigorous. We didn’t stop until almost dawn. Fortunately, you came back on your own.” Even though I already knew about their relationship, seeing it with my own eyes still tightened my heart. I said nothing, just walked inside. At the bedroom door, I ran into Declan coming out. When he saw me, he was startled and spoke in a fluster. “Adeline, when did you get back? I… let me explain, something came up last night, so Nora stayed over.” I glanced at the messy bedroom with clothes torn on the floor. Clenching my fists, I shook my head nonchalantly, “It’s fine. When can I come in?” Seeing my expressionless face, without anger, Declan was the one who became embarrassed and angry. “Adeline, aren’t you mad? Seeing me with another woman, don’t you have any reaction?” I blinked, “What reaction do you want from me? To make a scene or hit her? What’s the point? You wouldn’t allow it anyway.” Declan didn’t expect me to respond like that, his brows furrowing tighter. At this moment, Nora chimed in, standing by Declan’s side, “Declan, today we need to go to Washington D.C. early. If it’s inconvenient, I can go by myself.” Declan wrapped his arm around her waist, ordering me, “Two days from now, Nora needs to register. Our son and I will accompany her to Washington D.C. today. We won’t be back for a while. Find the ancient manuscript quickly. Nora needs it for her exam in six months!” I nodded. It’s just an ancient manuscript, right? I’ll give it to her. If I don’t, they’ll definitely keep pestering me, making it harder for me to leave. When Nora got the ancient manuscript, her eyes were glowing. Watching their backs as the three of them left, I gave a bitter smile. I turned to the study, copying the recording of Declan’s conversation with our son from that day and took photos of the bedroom mess. Just then, I received a text from Nora. [Adeline, you’re really stupid. Did you really think that just giving me the manuscript would mean Declan would stay with you forever?] [I’m not afraid to tell you, we’ve actually been together since before you went to prison. He said he fell in love with me long ago, and you’re just his responsibility.] [Even your own son has called me mom for three years. The reason they never visited you during your three years in prison is because we lived together every day. What you thought was your home, I’ve actually lived in for three years.] She sent pictures after that. There were intimate photos of her and Declan, and family photos with our son. I didn’t reply, just saved them one by one. Everything about me in the bedroom, along with those photos, I threw into the trash downstairs. After doing all this, I placed the signed divorce papers and wedding ring on the table. As I was about to leave with my luggage, Declan called. His tone was gloomy, sounding conflicted: “Adeline, I haven’t forgotten my promise to you. I still have you in my heart.” “Actually, I…” Before he could finish, I heard Nora calling him. I replied calmly, “You go ahead.” “Adeline, I’ll explain things when I get back. Wait for me.” I was tired of his fake promises and hung up, blocking all his contacts. I’ve never felt so clear-headed as I do now. Before boarding the plane, I sent all the evidence to my attorney. Declan, weren’t you helping Nora step over me to succeed? Then I wish you smooth sailing. I hope you like this big gift. But I never expected another accident to happen along the way. I’m sorry, but the text to be translated is missing. Please provide the Chinese text you would like translated. 5 Two days later, Declan and Nora celebrated registering at a hotel suite. They kissed passionately, and as emotions intensified, Nora boldly asked, “Declan, when can we be together openly? Didn’t you say you’d divorce Adeline once you got the ancient acupuncture manuscript?”

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I’m the adopted daughter of the Taylor Family, and I’ve admired Declan Taylor since I was young. One accident changed everything. I lost my sight while saving him and became blind. He cried, promising to love me forever. But on the day I regained my sight, I discovered him having an affair with my best friend in the bedroom. I gave a bitter smile; it was time to leave. 1 In my life, I can’t tell day from night anymore. It’s always dark. A year ago, Declan was kidnapped. I got severely injured trying to save him, which led to my blindness. But I have no regrets. After all, it was him who chose me from the orphanage twenty years ago. Day by day, my love for him has become a part of me. I’ll never forget the day he held me in his arms, crying, and awkwardly responding to my love. “Phoebe, thank you for saving me. If you can’t see, I’ll be your eyes. We’ll be together forever.” Thinking about it still stirs my heart. I just hope my eyes heal soon, so I can see the one I long for. I felt around the bed, carefully got down, and opened the curtains. Warm sunlight poured in, and suddenly I felt a hint of brightness. This excited me immensely. But I didn’t want to disappoint those who love me. I planned to wait until I fully regained my sight to tell him the good news. I was immersed in the joy of recovery, but then I heard an eerie breathing sound. Since losing my sight, my hearing has become sharp. This sound filled me with inexplicable fear. “Declan, is that you?” No one answered. The breathing continued, and I realized it was more than one person. Various scenarios of home invasion flashed in my mind, making me anxious. I groped along the wall, heading out of the bedroom. “Declan, are you in the living room?” After a while, I finally heard a familiar voice from the living room, and I sighed in relief. “Phoebe, it’s me. Cora Green is here too.” I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination, but after he mentioned Cora’s name, there was a faint groan. “Phoebe, I wanted to check on you. I happened to meet Declan downstairs. The elevator was broken, and we climbed sixteen floors. It was exhausting.” She spoke, pretending to be breathless to convince me. Despite my doubts, I couldn’t bring myself to suspect them. But my heart felt heavy, as if shrouded in fog, leaving me lost. If Declan was my most beloved man, then Cora was my best friend. We were college roommates. After graduation, she joined my company, becoming my right-hand. I didn’t dare use dirty thoughts to suspect them. I couldn’t imagine the blow if they both betrayed me. That day, I didn’t ask further. Declan was as attentive as ever, and Cora acted as if nothing happened, raising a toast with me like usual. 2 Until the next morning, when I opened my eyes again, the brightness stung them. The room’s layout was clear before me. I was momentarily stunned, then immense joy surged through me—I could see again. I couldn’t help it. I wanted to tell Declan right away, but through the bedroom door, I saw the living room in disarray! The two were intertwined on the couch, clothes scattered everywhere. “Baby, aren’t you worried she’ll find out about us?” “She’s just a blind person. What can she find out? Besides, doesn’t this make it more exciting?” My heart felt like it was breaking. Tears streamed down endlessly, wishing time could reverse, erasing my hearing entirely! “Declan, do you even care about that blind girl? When you agreed to be with her, it broke my heart.” Cora whispered against Declan’s lips, her words filled with a coquettish tone, but they were a betrayal of my years of trust in her. But Declan’s words hurt me even more. He held the woman in front of him, a disdainful smile on his lips. “Ha, we actually had an engagement. Bringing her from the orphanage was to raise a child bride.” “Still, Phoebe Johnson is just a tool for the Taylor Family. If it wasn’t for the project she’s handling, I wouldn’t bother with her.” “Besides, my parents have agreed. As long as I secure the project, they’ll let me break the engagement.” Pain spread densely from my heart, making me catch my breath. So, this is how he always saw me. Ha, in his eyes, I’m just a tool for the Taylor Family! At this moment, I suddenly remembered the strange breathing sounds from yesterday. My worst fear had come true. I forced myself to suppress the anger within, unwilling to show my most vulnerable side, preserving the last shred of dignity. Then, I picked up the glass on the bedside table and threw it in frustration. The shattering sound was crisp and clear. The intimate sounds from the living room ceased immediately. After a while, Declan, clothes disheveled, walked into the room, cautiously asking, “Phoebe, you’re awake?” I tried to suppress my inner pain, pretending as if nothing had happened, and replied in a low voice, “Yeah, I accidentally knocked over the glass, sorry.” Looking at Declan casually draped in a coat, his expression impatient, but his voice still gentle, “It’s okay, I’ll clean it up. Phoebe, just rest, don’t get hurt.” In the past, such words would warm my heart, making me think my years of effort had finally paid off. But now, I felt cold all over. Seeing his dismissive gaze and the faint hickey on his neck, I realized all my efforts were a joke. I understood all my efforts were one-sided. Even if Declan didn’t love me, I had no complaints. But why promise me only to betray me? I opened my mouth, but my throat felt choked, and I couldn’t reveal that I had regained my sight. The Taylor Family raised me lavishly. Out of gratitude, I couldn’t let things get too ugly with Declan. Besides, my decade-long pursuit of Declan made that love deep-rooted. I needed time to let go. 3 “Declan, let’s visit the old house after breakfast tomorrow. I have something to discuss with Mr. and Mrs. Taylor.” Declan looked wary, repeatedly asking why we needed to go back. But after my reassurances, he agreed. Maybe he was confident, thinking I’d always be around to serve him. The next morning, I mechanically shoveled food into my mouth, trying hard not to let them notice anything off. In front of me, the two interacted intimately, as if this was a routine. They must have had numerous trysts while I was blind. Declan’s face showed a gentleness I’d never seen before. He always seemed distant, like a moon high in the sky. I never imagined he could show such a doting expression. My hand trembled slightly, gripping the spoon. Fooled by Declan’s illusory love for three years, loving him became a habit. From now on, that habit would cease to exist! 4 After breakfast, the three of us returned to the old house. As soon as I stepped inside, the Taylor Parents’ gaze on me was complex, perhaps with pity, but mixed with disdain. Meanwhile, Cora, staying close to Declan, was ingratiating herself with the Taylor Parents. This harmonious scene was quite glaring. I cleared my throat, intending to get straight to the point. “Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, I have something to discuss with you.” “I don’t know if my eyes will ever get better. In this state, I’m unworthy of Declan, so please cancel our engagement.” Initially, they seemed displeased at my interruption, especially Declan. But when they heard I wanted to break the engagement, he froze. Everyone had their own thoughts, their expressions varying. Luckily, they thought I was blind, or they wouldn’t have hidden their expressions so well. “Phoebe Johnson, what are you talking about? Are you out of your mind?” Declan looked surprised, questioning harshly. “Declan, speak properly!” Mr. Taylor scolded, walking over to pat my shoulder. “Phoebe, I know you’re doing this for Declan. But didn’t the doctor say your eyes could recover? Stay positive.” If I hadn’t noticed the disdain in his eyes, I might have believed his words. They raised me, but since I turned eighteen, I’ve been involved in the company, loyal to the Taylors, contributing greatly to their financial gain. Now, the only reason they haven’t discarded me is that the doctor said my eyes could recover. All the dirty and hard work in this house would fall on me once I recovered. Ignoring the ache in my heart, I forced a bitter smile, staring blankly ahead. “Mr. Taylor, I actually went to see the doctor again later. He said my eyes will never recover.” Beside me, Cora’s face lit up with joy, as if she saw her chance to rise, quickly moving to comfort the Taylor Parents. The only reason they haven’t tossed me aside like an expendable piece is because the doctor said my eyes might still heal. Once I’m better, I’ll have to handle all the hard and thankless tasks around here. I ignored the dull ache in my chest, forced a slightly bitter smile, and stared vacantly ahead. “Mr. Taylor, I actually went back to see the doctor. He said my eyes will never recover.” Nearby, Cora Green’s face lit up, as if she thought her moment to shine had finally come. She quickly went over to the Taylor Parents, pretending to offer comfort. “Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, there’s no need to be upset. Phoebe has always been sensible. She made this decision hoping you’d respect her wishes.” “Besides, she personally trained me. Even if she leaves, you’ll still have me.” Cora Green, my supposed best friend, couldn’t contain her eagerness. I had only mentioned ending the engagement, yet she seemed bent on pushing me out of Taylor Corporation altogether. After all, she can only advance if I step aside. “Phoebe Johnson, you think you can just break off our engagement at will? I won’t agree to that.” Declan Taylor sat on the sofa, his gaze lingering on me. But I know him too well. He refuses to break the engagement likely because it’s the first time I’ve taken a stand against him. I took a deep breath and spoke slowly. “Declan, I’m willing to hand my projects over to you. I know I’m not suited for you. In the future, I just want to live quietly as an ordinary person.” Hearing this, the joy on the faces of the Taylor Parents was unmistakable, and my heart grew heavier. These are the Taylor Family Members who raised me. Each of them wants to squeeze every last bit of value out of me. Of course, this is likely because I still bear the Johnson name. They constantly remind me that I’m just an orphan they took in. At this moment, Mr. Taylor sighed dramatically, feigning regret, and said, “Phoebe, since you’re so determined, we won’t force you.” Cora Green’s hand reached for Declan’s leg, and when she glanced at me, there was an unmistakable hint of smugness. She fawned over the Taylor Parents, her sycophantic behavior truly repulsing me. Declan, on the other hand, was unusually silent, though his eyes occasionally drifted toward me, his expression somber. I looked at everything before me with a rare sense of calm and turned to leave the old Taylor family home. To my surprise, Declan actually followed me out. “Phoebe Johnson, I don’t understand what’s gotten into you today. Didn’t you love me? Why are you initiating the breakup?” His face was full of confusion, as if he’d come out just to hear the truth. I forced a smile more painful than tears, my voice low and devoid of emotion. “Declan, your outfit today looks great. The light blue is like the clouds in the sky, just like when you chose me at the orphanage.” With that, I watched Declan’s eyes widen in shock, frozen in place. I turned and disappeared into the night. I’m sorry, it seems there’s no specific text provided for translation. Could you please provide the text you need translated? 6 The night sky was dazzling with stars. Alone, I returned to my apartment, sitting by the window, watching the city lights below. For the first time in three years, I spent a night without Declan Taylor by my side. The room felt hauntingly quiet. The red wine in my hand seemed especially vivid against the night, and I quietly reflected on the past, feeling a heavy heart. My love for Declan, steadfast for over a decade, had me dreaming just yesterday of our future—imagining him in a suit, marrying me. Unfortunately, reality is always harsh.

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Even though we’re twins, other families seem to manage balancing their love between their children. But in my family, the balance is always off. Mom and Dad favor my brother because he’s been frail since childhood, earning their special care and affection. However, this love is a double-edged sword, spoiling him excessively. Ultimately, his future may not turn out as they hope. “Smack…” A sharp sound echoed as I received a solid slap from my brother, Asher. “Jude, do you think I’m joking? How dare you ignore me?” Asher shouted, pointing at me. “Asher, are you out of your mind? Adeline is my girlfriend. How can you, as my brother, bully your own brother’s girlfriend? What kind of person are you?” I couldn’t hold it in any longer, no longer caring if he was my brother. “You’ve really turned against me now, speaking to me like this.” Asher said, stepping forward to slap me again. I couldn’t take it anymore and immediately fought back, slapping Asher. Asher was furious. Since childhood, he had always bullied me, never once being on the receiving end, and he would never allow such a situation. We started wrestling with each other. Adeline tried to pull us apart, but as a woman, she was unable to handle two enraged men. Out of options, she grabbed my phone and called my dad. Adeline was our neighbor back home, and we grew up together, very close since childhood. Later, when we went to college, we moved to the city together and attended the same university. Over the years, we took care of each other. When I confessed during college, everything naturally fell into place. But my brother has always liked to take what I have, especially things that belong to me. So, he came to us and said something so outrageous, actually asking me to give him my girlfriend. Other things I might tolerate, but she was my childhood sweetheart, the woman I intended to marry. He was going too far. We fought for a long time until my mom shouted, “Stop it, both of you, stop it now!” Only then did we let go of each other. “Ah… my heart hurts so much, I can’t breathe!” Asher suddenly collapsed, clutching his chest and crying out.

“Son, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” My mom immediately rushed to Asher, her face filled with concern and worry, as if she’d forgotten about me, her other son. My dad stepped forward and slapped me hard across the face. “You worthless kid, how dare you hit your brother! You’re completely out of control. You’ve been a curse to your brother since you were little, causing him to end up like this. Do you want to kill him now? How did I end up with such a vicious child?” My dad scolded me, as if not satisfied, he even pulled out a belt and started whipping me. “Dad, why don’t you ask what happened first? Why are you always so biased?” I dodged as I questioned him. But my dad wouldn’t listen, continuing to beat me without pause. “I really regret having such an ungrateful son like you. Your brother’s heart isn’t good, and I should’ve given him yours.” He berated me while striking me. My mom yelled from the side, “Honey, Asher is in pain, we need to take him to the hospital!” My dad finally stopped the beating, dropping the belt and lifting my brother to leave. My mom, seemingly not over it, came forward, slapped me across the face, cursed, and hurriedly left with them. I sat on the ground, feeling utterly desolate. Adeline knelt down, trying to comfort me. But I couldn’t hear anything, my heart felt like it was in ashes. I didn’t know what I did wrong to deserve such treatment. Asher and I are twin brothers, but he was born with a weak heart, almost not making it, while I was completely healthy. Luckily, Asher was saved but was left with congenital heart disease, relying on medication. The doctor said he could have a heart attack at any time, so they kept emergency heart pills on hand. Our parents sacrificed a lot for the both of us.

Our family lived in the countryside, not very wealthy, bearing the cost of Asher’s medical bills made them anxious and exhausted. Sometimes, they couldn’t even afford his medication, leaving them at their wits’ end. Desperate, they turned to superstitions, burning incense, praying, and even consulting fortune tellers. The fortune teller revealed something that would haunt me for life. He said that as twins, we should have similar conditions, but I was healthy while Asher had a heart condition because we were born to clash. I supposedly took Asher’s luck and health, causing his frailty and illness. To protect Asher, we had to be separated, or I’d doom him. My parents believed the fortune teller, and from then on, they saw me as a demon. Other families rejoiced over healthy twins, but not ours. One had heart disease while the other didn’t, just as the fortune teller said — one cursed the other. When I was three, my parents sent me to live with Grandma in the countryside, while they took Asher to the city for treatment and work. Grandma had trouble walking, yet she had to care for a three-year-old. I was ignorant and always asked Grandma to carry me, and we often fell, bruising ourselves. When I reached school age, I studied in the village, while Asher went to school in the city, enjoying better conditions. Ironically, my grades were always better. I consistently ranked in the top three, while Asher was always last. Yet, my parents didn’t discipline him or guide him. They blamed me for taking his luck, making him dumb with poor grades. I was speechless. Isn’t studying about effort, not luck? I remember when I got into high school, scoring first in the entrance exam, but Asher had no school willing to take him, so they had to buy a spot. That was when my parents were at their worst. They stormed into the countryside and, without listening, started beating me with sticks. Scared, I ran and cried, but they wouldn’t stop. Finally, perhaps from exhaustion, they stopped. Only then did they reveal why they beat me. They believed I was a devil, stealing Asher’s luck. I got first place, while he was last, even with no school accepting him, all because of me, the jinx. My brother was sick, now with poor grades and no school, how would he find a job to support himself? My dad had finally settled, barely achieving a modest living, but it wasn’t enough for Asher’s needs. So, all the blame fell on me, the jinx. They beat me, scolded me, and almost killed me. At that moment, I even considered dying.

Thankfully, Grandma returned and stopped their abuse, driving them away. That day, I cried for a long time, unable to sleep, waking up from nightmares. The next morning, Grandma found me burning with fever. She quickly called the village doctor, busying herself with my care, looking both heartbroken and worried. I asked Grandma why, when Asher was sick, Mom and Dad were always there, but now I was sick, and they weren’t here for me. Grandma comforted me, but tears streamed down her face. After that, I rarely saw my parents again. Until three years later, when I got into college and moved to the city. Adeline went to the same university, and she was the only light in my life besides Grandma. She was there during my most painful days, and we had a great relationship. When I went to the city for school, Grandma couldn’t afford the tuition or rent, so I had to rely on my parents. I didn’t want to, but with no money, I had no choice. When I saw my parents again, they didn’t even look at me. Over the years, my dad seemed to earn more, buying an apartment in the city. I’d never lived in such a nice place, never even seen one, and it was my first time in an elevator. Perhaps because I was older, seventeen or eighteen, and much taller than them, they didn’t hit or scold me anymore. They paid for tuition and let me stay, but I had to do all the housework. I had no choice but to agree. For me, doing chores was easy. I’d been doing them all my life in the countryside. But Asher was the biggest problem. He was my brother in name only. Other than looking older, in everything else, he was inferior to me. But he was the most troublesome. Whenever I cleaned, he’d throw trash around, making me sweep several times. After I washed dishes and dried them, he’d pour oil on them. If I washed clothes, he’d stomp on them. He did all this openly, making it a habit. It’s not that I didn’t fight back; I did. However, the one who gives me the biggest headache is Asher. He’s technically my brother, but aside from looking obviously older, he’s lacking in every other aspect. Yet, he’s the biggest troublemaker. Whenever he’s at home, if I sweep the floor, he intentionally throws trash around, making me sweep multiple times. When I wash dishes, he spills oil on them before I can put them in the sterilizer. Even the clothes I’ve washed, he deliberately steps on. He does all this so blatantly, as if it’s just the norm. It’s not that I didn’t fight back. I did try to stand up for myself. I remember the first time he tried to dirty my freshly washed clothes, I gently pushed him away. He pretended to fall, clutching his chest and claiming it hurt. My parents rushed over when they heard the commotion. Before I could explain, he accused me of being careless with chores, saying he just casually mentioned it and I hit him, pushing him hard. Without hearing my side, my dad slapped me twice, scolding me for being ruthless, even bullying my seriously ill brother. I was already aware of and deeply felt my parents’ bias and unfairness. So from then on, I tried to control myself and endure as much as I could. I stopped explaining myself. All I could do was swallow my anger, hoping to get through college. Once I started working, I’d be financially independent and move out, never to see them again. But despite my hopes for peace, trouble kept coming. My brother didn’t get into a university; he went to a subpar associate degree program. He skips class all the time, hanging out with some unsavory classmates. My parents indulge him because he’s supposedly sick. But he crossed the line when he came to my school. Asher, with some delinquent classmates, came near our school because it’s a prestigious university with a lively surrounding area. They came to eat crawfish. During their conversation, Asher bragged that he had a brother who would come at his beck and call, asking me to serve them by peeling crawfish. Egged on by his friends, he actually called me. I didn’t want to deal with him and hung up. But as luck would have it, Adeline and I happened to pass by the crawfish shop, and Asher saw us. He immediately came out, kicked me, and ordered me to peel crawfish for his friends. I refused, and just as he was about to hit me again, Adeline stopped him. “Is it you, Asher? You can’t bully Jude.” They had met as kids, but since moving to the city, Asher never returned to our hometown and didn’t recognize Adeline. Seeing how pretty Adeline was, Asher became interested. After a brief chat and realizing her connection to me, he became displeased. “How come the younger brother has a girlfriend when the elder doesn’t? There has to be an order!” he said, as if it were only right. I asked what he wanted, and shamelessly, Asher said I should give Adeline to him. I might be submissive, but everyone has a limit. I can tolerate you hurting me, but I won’t let you harm the people closest to me, especially the innocent ones. So, I firmly refused. Asher wouldn’t have it, especially with his friends watching. He felt humiliated. So, he tried to grab her. I quickly pulled Adeline behind me, and he slapped me hard. That’s how we ended up fighting. But he repeated his trick, pretending to have a heart attack when my parents arrived, and I got scolded again. At that moment, my heart was completely shattered. No amount of sincerity can revive a love that’s dead. Maybe I shouldn’t have expected anything. I packed a few things and left resolutely. I found a work-study job at a restaurant that provided room and board, allowing me to earn a bit. This way, I wouldn’t have to live under someone else’s roof anymore. While studying and working, Adeline stopped visiting as often. I texted her, asking if she was upset because I was busy with my part-time job and couldn’t spend time with her. She said she wasn’t mad and even laughed, saying she was busy with her studies. I naively believed her. But what I didn’t expect was that one day, while delivering food at a hotel, Adeline opened the door. We were both shocked. Then, a man’s voice came from inside: “Adeline, hurry up and bring the food in, I’m starving.” Hearing that voice, I was even more shocked. It was clearly Asher’s voice. I couldn’t hold back and rushed in. Adeline tried to stop me but couldn’t. Sure enough, inside, I saw Asher lying in bed, naked. I was petrified. In the next second, I screamed. All my grievances and humiliation surged through me. “Not happy, are you? Angry, right? Jude, this is the gap between you and me.” I looked at Adeline, furiously asking, “Why? Why did you betray me too?” Caught in the act, Adeline dropped the act. She took a couple of steps forward and sat on Asher’s lap. “I fell in love with Asher at first sight.” I tearfully asked, “Love at first sight with him? What about our ten-plus years of relationship?” Adeline shook her head. “Jude, that was just childish ignorance. We grew up together, but it was just a playmate relationship, nothing more. You deluded yourself into thinking it was a childhood romance. I couldn’t help it.” “But I confessed, and you agreed. You’re my girlfriend.” Adeline shook her head again. “I agreed because of our long friendship. I couldn’t think of a reason to reject you and didn’t want to hurt you. But now that I’m with Asher, I won’t betray him. Jude, we’re breaking up now. You’ll find someone better.” Asher laughed loudly, “He’ll find someone better? Look at him, looking all pauper-like. How could he possibly find someone better? Unlike me, I have money. Dad said all of the family assets will go to me. Did you know? Dad got a big contract recently. Once it’s done, our family will be worth billions. Hillbilly, you’ve probably never even seen ten thousand dollars in your life. Do you know what a billion means? The gap between us will only widen. I can spend lavishly on Adeline, but you? You can only afford to buy her cheap breakfast with your measly salary. But I can buy her jewelry and high-end cosmetics. I won’t need to work for the rest of my life. Even living off my parents, I’ll be wealthy. And you? You’re destined to be a mere worker. What do you have to compete with me? How can you give Adeline happiness?” I furiously threw the food I was holding to the ground and ran out. I’m sorry, but it looks like the text you’re requesting for translation is missing. Could you please provide the Chinese text that you would like me to translate? 7 At that moment, I couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into tears. Why does everyone dislike and betray me? Was I born just to be treated this way? Even though I’ve left that family, I still carry all the pain. Why is that? If they didn’t want me, why did they bring me into this world?

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I am the daughter of a billionaire, returning home to take over the family business. Little did I know that simply attending a gala on my brother’s arm would lead to such disaster. Finn’s sickly girlfriend, Charlotte, mistook me for the other woman. In my previous life, she cut off both my hands and had thugs torture me for three days and nights. “My boyfriend comes from a noble family. A slut like you has no right to pursue him. Know your place and rot in the gutter where you belong!” Charlotte had sneered. Dr. Young, my doctor, begged my brother on his knees to avenge me, but Finn remained unmoved. “Even if she is my sister, if her death makes Charlotte happy, then so be it,” Finn had said coldly. To cover up Charlotte’s crime, he even ran over the doctor with his car when the man tried to seek justice for me at the police station. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back at the moment Charlotte was about to cut off my hands. This time, I ignored the call from my heartless brother and dialed my father instead. “Dad, make sure none of our hospitals treat Charlotte for her illness,” I said firmly. “Also, cancel all of Finn’s inheritance rights and kick him out of the family.” I wanted to see who would end up rotting in the gutter this time.

“You dare seduce my boyfriend while I’m sick? Aria Lynn, you shameless slut!” “You like holding other people’s boyfriends’ hands, do you? Well, let me help you with that. I want to see how you’ll seduce men after I’ve ruined your hands!” Accompanied by the familiar voice, I felt something sharp pierce my wrist. The acute pain jolted my foggy mind awake. Opening my eyes, I saw Charlotte’s vicious grin as she twisted a scalpel in my wrist. Seeing this familiar scene, I instantly realized I had been given a second chance at life. I had traveled back in time to the day Charlotte kidnapped me and cut off my hands in an abandoned factory. The Bluetooth earpiece hidden by my messy hair transmitted Finn’s cold voice: “Stop pretending, Aria. How could fragile Charlotte possibly kidnap you?” “Even if you’re jealous of Charlotte, don’t stoop to such despicable methods to frame her. She’s my future wife. It’s not worth dirtying your hands over her, understand?” As I felt my right hand gradually going numb, I closed my eyes, not uttering a single word to beg Finn for help. I recalled how in my previous life, I had frantically tried to explain to Finn that I wasn’t jealous of Charlotte. I had cried and begged him to save me, abandoning all dignity. But Finn had remained coldly indifferent. My unusual behavior had also alerted Charlotte. As a result, she had smashed the phone I had hidden, destroying my only hope of rescue. Charlotte yanked the scalpel out of my wrist and slapped me hard across the face. “You bitch, still pretending? Let’s see how long you can keep this act up!” With that slap, half my face went numb. I felt warm liquid trickling down my face. I was certain my face was now disfigured. Charlotte seemed pleased with my wretched state as she turned to leave. But I knew this wasn’t Charlotte letting me off the hook. She was going to fetch the same group of thugs who had violated me in my previous life. I watched Charlotte’s retreating figure disappear completely before using my teeth to gnaw through the ropes binding my hands. I pulled out the phone hidden in my clothes and didn’t hesitate to hang up on Finn, dialing my father instead. Just as the call connected, I heard Charlotte’s shrill scream behind me. “Aria Lynn, what are you doing?!” My heart raced wildly. I instinctively wanted to run, but the phone connected at that moment. Seeing Charlotte approaching with three menacing men, memories of my previous life’s nightmare came flooding back. I froze in place, using my last ounce of strength to say into the phone: “Dad, save me.” The next second, Charlotte had rushed over. My phone was violently smashed to the ground. But this time, I wasn’t worried. I knew my dad would definitely come to save me. I was the only biological daughter of Frederick Lynn, the Lynn family patriarch and richest man in the country. I was the child his most beloved wife had died giving birth to. Since childhood, I had been strictly protected by the family. Anyone who dared to harbor ill intentions towards me met a miserable end. If Dad found out I had been hurt like this, he would surely be furious. He would make those who dared harm me pay a thousand, no, ten thousand times over. Charlotte shoved me to the ground, grinding her heel into the wound on my hand. She pointed at the three thugs behind her and snarled at me viciously: “I knew you wouldn’t behave. Looks like three men aren’t enough. A slut like you deserves to be ridden by a thousand men!” At Charlotte’s signal, the three men approached me with evil grins on their faces. I closed my eyes in despair, tears involuntarily sliding down my cheeks. However, at that moment, the sound of a scuffle suddenly rang out. I opened my eyes to see Dr. Samuel Young, who in my previous life had sought justice for me only to be run over by Finn.

“I’ll hold them off. Run, Aria!” Dr. Young shouted. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling, nor did I have time to wonder why he was here. I shook my head at him weakly. “No, you should go. Don’t worry about me.” I was severely injured and had lost too much blood. Even if I managed to stand up, I wouldn’t get far. I had already caused his death in my previous life. I couldn’t let him die for me again. But it was too late. Dr. Young was kicked to the ground by the three thugs, their fists raining down on him like hailstones. My heart clenched painfully. I tried desperately to tell them to stop, but to no avail. Charlotte grabbed my hair, her tone vicious: “Aria Lynn, I didn’t expect your lapdog to be so devoted, actually daring to come save you.” “Well then, I’ll grant your wish. You can die together!” Blood loss was making my vision blur, but I still glared at Charlotte with all my might. “I advise you to release Dr. Young and me immediately. You can’t afford the consequences of hurting me!” Hearing my words clearly, Charlotte burst into derisive laughter. She slapped me across the face again without hesitation, her tone mocking: “Who do you think you are? Finn is the son of the richest man in the country. Don’t you believe that even if I killed you, the police wouldn’t dare touch me?” “I’ll record a video of you being defiled and post it online. Let’s see if you’re still so tough then, Aria Lynn!” Hearing this, the three thugs walked towards me again, lewd smiles on their faces. Dr. Young used his last ounce of strength to try and grab their legs, but they mercilessly stomped on his arm. I heard the clear sound of bones breaking. Trembling with rage, I could no longer hold back from revealing my identity. “Enough! Finn is just an adopted son taken in by my dad. I am the real and only daughter of the richest man in the country!” “One word from me and Finn will be kicked out of the Lynn family. If you don’t stop now, I promise your fate will be a thousand, no, ten thousand times worse than mine today!” Charlotte froze for a moment. When she understood my words, she laughed even louder. “Aria Lynn, have you gone mad from failing to seduce Finn?” “Everyone knows the current richest man’s surname is Lynn, and he doesn’t have a daughter at all. You didn’t even do your research before lying.” My heart sank. The Lynn family had protected me too well. At the most extreme, even stray dogs passing by my side would be thoroughly investigated. As a result, my information had never appeared in public. Additionally, I had taken my late mother’s surname. At age five, I had fallen seriously ill and gone abroad for treatment. Even now, the outside world was unaware that the richest man had a daughter surnamed Lynn. I gritted my teeth through the searing pain in my wrist, glaring at Charlotte. “What I’m saying is true. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Finn!” Although I knew Finn wouldn’t help me, I could say this now. I just needed to stall until my dad’s people arrived… “Lies upon lies. You think I’d believe you?!” Charlotte slapped me twice across the face and yanked me up by my hair. She gripped my face, gesturing for two thugs to hold down my arms while the third picked up an axe from the corner. I instantly understood what she intended to do. I struggled violently, desperately headbutting Charlotte. Caught off guard, Charlotte’s nose was struck. Enraged, she turned and slapped me hard across the face several times. My face stung fiercely, but my entire body had gone cold with fear. Was I destined to lose my hands even in this second chance at life? I fell into despair. Just as the axe was about to fall on my hands, the factory doors were smashed open with a thunderous crash. An SUV charged in at full speed, ramming into the thug holding the axe over me. The two thugs holding me down were startled and instinctively released me. Seeing the situation turn against her, Charlotte tried to flee but was immediately pinned down by bodyguards who jumped out of the vehicle. My father’s secretary hurriedly got out of the car, calling for people to take Dr. Young and me to the Lynn family’s private hospital.

I had just finished getting bandaged and was sent to the VIP ward when my father called. Answering the phone, I briefly explained what had just happened. Thinking of how Dr. Young had selflessly tried to protect me, I couldn’t help but feel touched. After hearing my account, my father could no longer sit still. “What did you say?! That Charlotte actually tried to cripple your hands? She clearly has no idea of the Lynn family’s methods!” “And that bastard Finn – I’ll make them regret ever being born into this world.” I nodded in agreement. “Dad, I want you to cancel all of Finn’s inheritance rights and kick him out of the Lynn family.” “Also, Dr. Young – if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have escaped. I’d like to introduce him to you sometime.” My father made a solemn promise: “Don’t worry. From the moment he dared to hurt you, Finn was no longer part of the Lynn family.” “My secretary is coming to pick me up now. Wait for Dad to come back and support you!” Hanging up the phone, my anxious heart finally settled. I wanted to go to the next room to check on Dr. Young. Just as I got out of bed, the door was pushed open from outside. Looking up, I saw Finn walk in with a group of bodyguards. Without a word, he kicked me in the stomach. “Who gave you the guts to bully Charlotte?” he snarled. I was kicked to the ground, in too much pain to speak. I couldn’t understand what gave Finn the right to hit me. He was nothing but an orphan adopted by my parents. If not for my family, he’d probably still be fighting stray dogs for scraps in the garbage. Before I went abroad at age five, I had treated him extremely well, regarding him as my own brother. Even after I returned, I had suggested to Dad that Finn and I inherit the family business together in the future. My family had given him a new life, yet he personally pushed me into hell. Charlotte, who should have been locked up awaiting my judgment, emerged from behind Finn. Looking at my wretched state on the ground, she spoke in a sarcastic tone: “Forget it, Finn. Aria claims to be the richest man’s only daughter. We can’t afford to offend her…” Finn let out a cold laugh, looking at me with disdain. “The Lynn family does have a daughter, but it’s not you, you slut who seduced my father to become his goddaughter.” “I’ve grown up in the Lynn family. How could I not recognize who the real Lynn family daughter is?” Finn’s words left me somewhat confused, but I was absolutely certain I was the real Lynn family daughter. At this moment, a middle-aged man stepped out from behind Finn. I recognized him as Gary Lee, my father’s deputy. My heart lifted with a glimmer of hope. Just as I was about to cast a pleading look at Gary, he suddenly stomped on my freshly bandaged wrist. “Where did this shameless slut come from, seducing the master and now trying to seduce the young master? You even dare to impersonate our young miss.” “Let me teach you a lesson since you clearly don’t know your place!” He ground his foot into my hand, fresh blood seeping through the bandages from reopened wounds. I stared at Gary in disbelief, my eyes reddening with pain. “Have you gone mad? I am the Lynn family daughter, the real Lynn family daughter!” But Gary just sneered. “I’ve been with the Lynn family for over a decade. You claim to be the Lynn family daughter, so why have I only ever seen Young Master Finn and never you?” He grabbed my hair and yanked me up, his tone contemptuous. “The Lynn family’s daughter is the apple of everyone’s eye. If you were really the Lynn family daughter, why has Mr. Lynn never mentioned you?” “No need to explain. Young Master Finn has already told me everything.” “You’re nothing but a scheming woman who used your body to force the master to accept you as a goddaughter. The master detests you, so now you’re trying to seduce Young Master Finn.” With a few sentences, Gary had branded me a conniving seductress. I tried to explain through the pain that Dad had hidden my existence to protect me. To avoid me being targeted, he always pretended to be indifferent when seeing me. I never imagined this would become their evidence to condemn me. But before I could open my mouth, Charlotte interjected pitifully: “I just wanted to advise Aria not to be a homewrecker. I didn’t expect her to be so aggressive, directly claiming to be the Lynn family daughter. Won’t someone like her tarnish the Lynn family’s reputation?”

Gary’s eyes darted around calculatingly. He directed the bodyguards to surround and restrain me. “Miss Charlotte is right. We must teach you a good lesson today to show you that the Lynn family is not to be trifled with!” I tried to struggle, but Gary slapped me hard across the face, reopening wounds that had just stopped bleeding. In the past, no one had dared to hit me. I was the Lynn family’s treasured jewel, protected in the palm of their hand. But today alone, I had been slapped more times than I could count. This was no longer just physical pain, but a mental humiliation. My heart was filled with resentment. Seeing this, Charlotte sauntered over to me and crouched down, her face full of malice. “The Lynn family’s dignity cannot be violated. As the future daughter-in-law of the richest man, I must punish you properly for your lies.” She shoved the scalpel into my mouth and twisted it around. Blood instantly filled my throat, the pain nearly unbearable. My vision gradually blurred. I recalled the feeling of being on the brink of death in my previous life. Just as I was about to despair, I suddenly heard the door being pushed open. Then my father’s voice rang out: “What’s going on here?”

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On the eve of our wedding, a sudden car accident took away the child in my womb. Ethan Lewis rushed me to the hospital, seemingly anxious and worried. Through the haze of anesthesia, I heard the doctor’s whisper to him: “The fetus was already fully formed. Such a pity.” “What’s there to pity? It’s just a lump of flesh,” Ethan’s voice was cold and heartless. “The accident has caused severe damage to Ms. Sullivan. I’m afraid she might not be able to conceive again…” “It doesn’t matter. She can take care of Tommy, my child with Olivia. Losing her ability to have children might make her cherish Tommy even more.” Lying on the hospital bed, tears silently rolled down my face. So, the man I deeply loved was this cold-blooded. The wedding I had been looking forward to turned out to be a death trap for my child. If that’s the case, I’ll make them pay the price. “Mr. Lewis, the baby is healthy. It’s a boy. Would you like to take a look?” The doctor’s inquiry came from behind the curtain. “No need. Dispose of it as medical waste. Also, don’t preserve her reproductive organs. Make it clean.” Ethan’s tone was chillingly calm. “After she recovers, I’ll take her to adopt Tommy from the orphanage. Without the ability to have children, she’ll love this child wholeheartedly.” The doctor glanced at me hesitantly, “But Ms. Sullivan’s injuries are severe, her uterus is already damaged. If you still want to do this… it will ruin her life.” “Your child with Ms. Parker is already so big, you can’t keep it a secret for long. If she finds out this accident was arranged by you…” “She will never know,” Ethan interrupted the doctor. “I promised Olivia that although I can’t give her official status, I would give her a perfect wedding.” He gently held my hand, slipping a sparkling diamond ring onto my finger. “I’ll make it up to her for the rest of our days.” In the hospital room, Ethan carefully wiped my forehead and lightly kissed my lips. “Lily, I specifically requested the best sutures. There won’t be any scars.” “The anesthesia is strong. Rest well, don’t worry about anything.” He didn’t know that I had already regained consciousness and was just holding back my tears. Five years of love, a meticulously prepared wedding, turned out to be an elaborately designed deception. He already had a child with someone else, yet claimed Olivia Parker was just a distant cousin. The man I deeply loved, the father of my child, turned out to be the murderer of our baby. After Ethan left, I finally broke down in tears. The wound on my abdomen was painful, but far less than the wound in my heart. I gently caressed the site of the surgery, where our child had once been growing. I opened a video sent by a friend, showing the beachside wedding venue I had spent half a year planning. “Today, the private wedding of tech rising star Ethan Lewis is taking place, and the bride’s identity is finally revealed…” Against the backdrop of blue sky and sea, Ethan embraced Olivia from behind. White doves flew, creating a picturesque scene. “Olivia, this wedding is the surprise I prepared for you. Do you like it?” “I know you don’t like complicated ceremonies. Today it’s just the two of us, no outsiders to disturb us.” Olivia smiled sweetly and kissed his cheek: “Thank you, Ethan. You’re always so thoughtful.” The couple embraced lovingly, a heartbreaking scene. Tears blurred the screen and my vision. The wedding I had been eagerly anticipating turned out to have someone else as the leading lady. For three years of marriage, I had taken care of his family, willingly being his hidden wife. Yet he gave all the romance to his mistress, leaving only responsibility and shackles for me.

Ethan didn’t come home that night. The next morning, before I fully woke up, I heard him on the phone. “…Have all the news about the wedding been taken care of? Lily absolutely cannot find out.” When I opened my eyes, he was already sitting by the bed, full of concern. “You’re awake? How do you feel?” “Our child is gone,” I said, my voice trembling, my eyes hollow. He hugged me tightly: “Don’t worry. Even if you can’t have children, you’ll always be the one I love most, a part of the Lewis family.” “I love you. That will never change.” If I hadn’t already known the truth, I might have believed these sweet words. Now, I only felt waves of nausea. I quickly withdrew my hand, pushing him away. Ethan was stunned for a moment but quickly regained his gentle demeanor. “I’ve contacted an orphanage. Didn’t you always want a child? We can adopt one.” He finally revealed his true intentions impatiently. I regretted being so blind before, unable to see through his disguise. If that’s the case, I’ll play along with his game. On the day of discharge, Ethan carefully carried me to the car, appearing loving to onlookers. At the orphanage, a little boy ran towards us energetically, innocently saying to Ethan: “Uncle Ethan, are you here to take me home? Will the new mom like Tommy? I’ll be very, very good!” “See how adorable Tommy is,” Ethan said gently. “Shall we take him home?” The boy’s features resembled Ethan’s, with traces of Olivia as well. “Of course,” I smiled faintly. Ethan visibly relaxed, crouching down to hold Tommy’s hand: “From today on, this is your new mom.” I looked directly into Ethan’s eyes. Those eyes that once made my heart flutter now held only hypocrisy. I recalled the conversation I had overheard on the hospital bed, and a chill ran through me. Thinking back to Ethan and Olivia’s conspiracy, to the child they had mercilessly killed, I excused myself to the restroom to escape the scene. Outside, I overheard staff members talking: “Mr. Lewis really went to great lengths. To bring his own son home legitimately, he came up with this plan.” “Indeed, willing to sacrifice his wife’s child to protect the one born by his mistress.” “We rehearsed with Tommy many times for this performance. Thankfully, it went perfectly…” I turned on the faucet, using the sound of water to mask my sobs. Leaving the restroom, I saw Olivia already standing beside Ethan. The family of three looked blissful. Tommy boasted proudly: “Dad, did I act well?” “As long as we fool Aunt Lily, you can spend more time with me and mom, right?” Ethan lovingly tapped his nose: “Our Tommy is so clever.” He then smiled at Olivia: “What does Mom think of Tommy’s performance?” Noticing me approaching, Ethan hurriedly stood up: “Lily, don’t misunderstand. Olivia often visits Tommy at the orphanage. He’s used to calling her mom and hasn’t broken the habit yet.” Olivia also put on a pitiful expression: “Sister-in-law, please don’t think too much. I just came to help my brother check on the child. This boy is really lovable. He’ll surely be filial to you both.” I suddenly felt absurdly amused. To have their child call me “mom” and enter the Lewis family openly, they didn’t hesitate to kill my child and deprive me of my ability to have children. After doing all these terrible things, they still pretend to be innocent in front of me? I shook my head slightly: “It’s fine. I won’t overthink it. Let’s go handle the paperwork. I agree to bring this child into our family.”

It was late when we got home. Ethan went to take a shower, and Tommy was already asleep. I noticed Ethan’s tablet on the bedside table, which he had forgotten to lock. I gently tapped it open. There was a hidden album full of photos of Ethan with Olivia and their son. He had attended every one of Tommy’s birthdays, from age one to three, never missing a single one. He had taken Olivia and Tommy to amusement parks, making wishes under fireworks. The three of them posed for photos in high-end restaurants, Ethan with his arm around Olivia, looking like a real family. In the last video clip, Tommy and Olivia kissed Ethan’s cheeks. Tommy sweetly said, “Happy birthday, Dad!” Olivia said lovingly, “Happy birthday, darling.” I remembered Ethan’s birthday this year. I had prepared recipes a month in advance and carefully cooked a table full of delicacies. Ethan lied about working overtime, saying he’d come back later to be with me. I waited until late at night, reheating the dishes over and over, but he never returned. So he was celebrating with his mistress and illegitimate son. When Ethan came out of the shower, I was already facing away, pretending to be asleep. He lay down and held me, his breath on the back of my neck. He said in a low voice, “Lily, I’m sorry. You already have the title of Mrs. Lewis. Olivia has nothing. I’ll give her and Tommy half of the company shares.” “As for the harm you’ve suffered, I’ll make it up to you for the rest of my life.” My eyelashes trembled violently as I struggled to contain the fury in my heart. This man I had lived with day and night had become so unfamiliar. Five years of love had vanished in the face of this enormous betrayal. Love and hate became blurred at this moment. The next morning, the doorbell rang. Ethan’s parents arrived with Olivia. “We heard you adopted a child, so we came specially to see,” his mother said with a beaming smile. Olivia lowered her head with a slight smile: “As his aunt, I also wanted to come see Tommy.” His mother’s gaze passed over me, landing directly on Tommy playing in the living room. His father’s eyes reddened: “He looks so much like… so much…” His mother smiled from ear to ear: “My dear grandson, we’ve finally met you.” Seeing how affectionate his parents were, I suddenly realized they had known about Tommy’s existence all along. From the very beginning, I was the only one kept in the dark. I quietly retreated to the kitchen. At the dining table, his parents kept piling food onto Tommy’s plate, completely ignoring my presence. Ethan seemed to sense something amiss and asked me in a low voice: “Lily, why aren’t you eating?” I looked up with a smile: “I’m not very hungry.” I watched this harmonious family scene, feeling nothing but irony. This home I once thought was my haven had long been filled with lies. Passing by the study, I overheard his mother saying disdainfully to Ethan: “Look at her, can’t even have a child, always playing the victim. If it weren’t for the Sullivan family’s influence, I would have told you to find a new wife long ago.” She then held Olivia’s hand, “Olivia, dear, you’re so understanding. Once you have a child, I’ll kick that wife out and let you officially enter our family.” Olivia pretended to be shy: “Auntie, as long as Ethan and I can be together, I don’t care about status. I believe one day I’ll be able to give you a grandchild of your own.” I shook my head with a bitter smile. So in this family, I had always been an outsider. After the meal, I excused myself, saying I wasn’t feeling well, and returned to the bedroom. Sitting by the window, I watched his parents playing with Tommy in the yard. The sun was bright, but it couldn’t shine into my heart. My phone vibrated. It was a message from the investigation company I had hired: “Ms. Sullivan, the investigation results are out. Ethan Lewis and Olivia Parker were indeed college sweethearts. Tommy’s birth date matches the information you provided…” I silently saved the evidence, my heart turning to ashes. Even though I had already decided to leave, seeing this evidence still made my heart ache unbearably. It was time to end this nightmare. It was time to wake up from this marriage woven with lies.

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I am the illegitimate daughter of a fallen wealthy family. I married the bipolar grandson of a billionaire in my sister’s place, and now she regrets it. She wore my nightgown and threw herself coquettishly into Lucas’s arms. As for me, my body sank into the cold ocean. My soul floated in mid-air, watching her slowly take my place step by step. She thought she could live the life of a wealthy socialite from now on. Little did she know that she had already stepped into the threshold of hell. 0 When Lucas returned from his business trip, my sister Evelyn was waiting at the door. I floated in mid-air, watching Evelyn gently and attentively remove his suit jacket. “Lucas, I’ve missed you so much.” She spoke in a slightly high-pitched voice, her tone rising slightly. Her way of speaking was identical to mine. When I was struggling to breathe during an asthma attack, she stepped on my inhaler. Her face, identical to mine, twisted in a vicious expression: “Do you know how I’ve lived these past two years abroad? I had to constantly study you, learn your every move, your way of speaking. I never imagined that one day I’d have to learn from you, you little bitch! Everything you have in the Gray family should have been mine!” She had indeed learned well; it was truly convincing. At least Lucas didn’t notice anything amiss. His expression remained indifferent as he allowed her to help him remove his suit jacket. As Evelyn tried to get closer, an unfamiliar fragrance wafted into Lucas’s nose. His eyes darkened slightly as he asked, “Did you change your perfume?” Evelyn hesitated for a moment, then lowered her eyes coyly, “Yes, I bought it while shopping today. Do you like it?” She didn’t get the romantic encounter she had fantasized about. Because in the next second, Lucas had already gripped her slender neck and pinned her against the wall. Her back slammed hard against the wall, causing Evelyn’s face to turn pale with pain. She looked at Lucas, who had suddenly turned violent, with shock and fear, struggling desperately. But Lucas’s eyes were bloodshot, as if he had lost his mind. His grip tightened, almost breaking her neck. “Help… me…” Evelyn’s face had already turned red from suffocation, as if she might lose consciousness at any moment. Watching this scene, I felt a sense of satisfaction. Evelyn, you saw how glamorous my life seemed and took my place at the cost of my life. Did you ever imagine what kind of soul lurked beneath Lucas’s cold and noble exterior? Just as Evelyn was about to roll her eyes back, Lucas suddenly released his grip. Evelyn collapsed to the floor, clutching her throat and gasping for air. Tears and mucus smeared her face, making her look quite ridiculous. Lucas pressed his forehead painfully and crouched down. Evelyn was so frightened that she trembled, wanting to run away but finding her legs too weak to stand. “Aria, I’m sorry…” Lucas’s dark eyes had already regained their calmness. He looked at the purple bruises on Evelyn’s neck with a hint of regret and reached out to caress them. Evelyn reflexively avoided his hand, wanting to speak but finding her voice too hoarse to utter a word. Seeing Evelyn’s rejection, Lucas’s hand fell on her hair, gently stroking it. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Perhaps I was triggered by your new perfume. I couldn’t control myself for a moment and hurt you.” He pulled the trembling Evelyn into his arms to comfort her: “Don’t be afraid of me, don’t leave me, Aria.” Evelyn sat there dumbfounded, her eyes full of fear. She was scared and regretful. But what right did Evelyn have to regret? I was already dead, and she couldn’t afford to offend the Gray family’s power. She had no choice but to continue playing the role of Lucas’s wife. Seeing that Evelyn still looked lost, Lucas took out a black card from his pocket and handed it to her: “As compensation, go buy something you like.” Evelyn’s eyes moved slightly. I saw the familiar greed in her downcast eyes. Lucas, seeing she didn’t move, actively placed the black card in her hand and gently kissed her cheek: “Aria, I’m going to take a shower. As for your perfume, switch back to the old one, okay? I’m afraid I might lose control and hurt you again.” After Lucas left, Evelyn let out a sigh of relief. She touched her neck fearfully, then caressed the black card in her hand. Finally, as if she had made some decision, she stood up. I heard her mutter to herself: “What’s done is done. If that bitch could win him over, I’m sure I can do it too.” Evelyn followed Lucas into the bedroom. I knew what she was thinking. She wanted to quickly consummate the marriage with Lucas, bear a child for the Gray family, and then gain status through the child. 0

I had no feelings for Lucas, but he had an extreme desire to control me. On our wedding night, he pinned me to the bed, his eyes dark: “You’re bound by this arranged marriage, married to a sick man like me. Do you hate me?” I shook my head trembling: “No, how could I hate you.” He smiled with a sneer: “That’s good. Remember, since you married me, you’re mine in life and in death. Never think about leaving me.” That night, I cried until my voice was hoarse, every bone in my body felt as if it had been crushed. Afterwards, Lucas lit a cigarette. In the hazy smoke, he apologized to me. His cold and restrained demeanor made me feel for a moment that the wildness in bed had been just a nightmare. Later, when he almost choked me to death during an episode, I remembered the question he had asked me as I was losing consciousness. Did I hate him? Indeed, I didn’t. Without him, I don’t know where I would have been sold off to. The one who originally had the marriage agreement with the Gray family was the eldest daughter of the Thompson family, Evelyn. As for me, I was just the result of Mr. Thompson’s youthful indiscretion. Evelyn had never met Lucas, only knowing that he suffered from bipolar disorder. People in their social circle all said that Lucas was antisocial and gloomy, often losing control of his emotions and going crazy, which was terrifying. Evelyn became increasingly distressed, constantly crying out that she wouldn’t marry him. But given the Gray family’s status in the business world, if the Thompson family backed out of the engagement today, they would likely go bankrupt tomorrow. It was at this time that my mother, who owed a huge gambling debt, brought me back to the Thompson family to be acknowledged. She had originally planned that if the Thompson family didn’t accept me, she would sell me to pay off her debts. Mr. Thompson gave my mother a sum of money and secretly kept me, spending a year to transform me into Evelyn’s likeness. A year later, he sent the real Evelyn abroad and sent me to the Gray family. It was a win-win situation for them. In the bedroom. Lucas had finished his shower and was drying his hair. As Evelyn plucked up the courage to approach Lucas, he suddenly spoke: “You went back to the Thompson house a few days ago?” Evelyn flinched reflexively when she heard his voice. She bit her lower lip, looking pitiful as she nodded: “Yes, my mother was sick, so I went to see her.” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly to myself. Half a month ago, Mr. Thompson had found my mother and asked her to pretend to be sick to lure me back to the Thompson house. Then, they locked me in an attic full of willow catkins, triggering my asthma. They took advantage of my illness to take my life. Lucas heard this and simply said “Oh,” then gently asked: “Do you want me to go back with you to check on her?” I was slightly taken aback. He rarely spoke with such emotion. After we got married, he never offered to accompany me back to the Thompson house. Seeing his gentle expression, Evelyn’s heart, which had been on edge, finally settled down. She thought that Lucas’s earlier violence must have been just a momentary lapse due to his condition. He was actually very gentle and considerate when he was normal. Evelyn’s face flushed slightly as she said softly: “Alright.” Then, very naturally, she put her hand on Lucas’s shoulder and tilted her head up to kiss him. Just then, the phone on the bedside table suddenly rang. Lucas immediately pushed her hand away and answered the call. There was a problem with a company project. “I won’t be coming home tonight. Go to bed early,” he said. With that, Lucas changed his clothes and left without looking back. Watching Lucas’s retreating figure, Evelyn stomped her foot in frustration. But recalling her interaction with Lucas earlier, she couldn’t help but blush again and called her mother, Mrs. Thompson. “Mom, I’ve got Lucas under control. He doesn’t suspect a thing.” She looked extremely pleased with herself. Mrs. Thompson on the other end of the phone was also very happy when she heard this. Marrying Lucas meant securing a life of wealth and status. 0

Mrs. Thompson asked: “How is Lucas treating you? Is he bullying you?” Evelyn rolled her eyes and didn’t mention being choked by Lucas. She just complained: “It’s all because of those rumors before, saying Lucas had bipolar disorder, was weird and antisocial, and would beat people! It was all nonsense. Lucas is gentle and considerate, and very generous too. He just gave me a black card. That little bitch Aria really lucked out before.” “Mom, it was all her fault for stealing my identity. I couldn’t even use my own name for these three years. I want to find a psychic to curse her so she can never find peace even in death.” I looked at my semi-transparent body and couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Wasn’t this already a state of unrest? Three years ago, when I married Lucas, Evelyn had her name changed and was sent abroad to lay low. Originally, it was said that she had married a foreigner, but later that man ran away owing huge gambling debts, leaving her to pay them off. Evelyn raised her eyebrows and smiled: “Anyway, Lucas and the Gray family were supposed to be mine. It’s just returning to the rightful owner. Aria, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” Returning to the rightful owner. How ridiculous. When Evelyn refused to marry Lucas, I was pinned to the operating table, feeling the cold surgical knife moving across my face, gradually removing all traces of Aria. Later, when Evelyn was burdened with huge debts and saw me appearing in public with Lucas in the news media, she regretted her decision. She admired the cold and noble Lucas, while also hating me for having her face. That night, Evelyn, who had finally gotten what she wanted, slept soundly. Early the next morning, she carefully dressed up and prepared a sumptuous meal to take to Lucas’s company. Before leaving, she sprayed my perfume heavily. The receptionist only took a few minutes to announce her arrival before Lucas came out to greet her personally. He seemed to be in a good mood and asked gently: “Why did you come?” Evelyn took his arm and smiled sweetly: “Because I missed you. I brought you lunch, let’s eat together.” Lucas hummed in agreement and didn’t push her hand away. The two walked arm in arm into the office. I felt a twinge of jealousy. Lucas didn’t like me coming to the company. I came once at the request of Mr. Gray, but I accidentally broke a cup in his office. He pinned me to the desk with a gloomy face and tore my dress. After venting, he said to me, who was completely exhausted: “Aria, know your place. Don’t yearn for things you can’t have.” I fled in a panic, wrapped in a shawl, and never came back. How is it that when Evelyn came, he became so gentle? Evelyn opened the thermal container and laid out the dishes layer by layer, then handed chopsticks to Lucas. Lucas took the chopsticks and tasted each dish: “It’s delicious.” Receiving his praise, Evelyn’s eyes curved in happiness as she started eating herself. Seeing her eating happily, a complex expression flashed in Lucas’s eyes: “I remember you said you weren’t feeling well before I left on my business trip, feeling nauseous. Are you better now?” Evelyn hesitated for a moment and explained: “I’m fine now, it was just a bit of gastroenteritis before…” Lucas pursed his lips and didn’t continue this topic. Instead, he had his assistant bring in a gown and said to Evelyn: “Put this on, I’ll take you to an auction later.” An auction? I suddenly understood. Every time Lucas hurt me during an episode, he would try to make it up to me. He probably wanted to buy Evelyn some jewelry to compensate for choking her last night. The camera flashes at the entrance were almost blinding as the CEO of Gray Corporation arrived with his beloved wife for the charity auction. Evelyn, wearing a haute couture gown and holding Lucas’s arm, smiled sweetly at the cameras. This was the life she had always dreamed of, and she finally got it. Lucas took Evelyn to a private box on the second floor. They stood on the balcony of the box, looking towards the central stage. Jade jewelry, antique paintings, it was dazzling. Under the dim yellow lights, Lucas’s expression seemed particularly gentle. He held Evelyn’s waist and placed a restrained kiss on her crimson lips, his eyes soft and affectionate: “Aria, choose something you like for the baby. Don’t hide it from me anymore, I know everything.” Evelyn was stunned. I was stunned too. She had a moment of confusion: “Know what? What baby?” Lucas reached out to touch her abdomen: “I haven’t touched you lately because I was afraid of hurting the baby. Don’t worry, I won’t let you get rid of it. Will you keep the baby for me?” Evelyn’s face turned a bit pale. She almost instinctively, in disbelief, said: “You mean she… I’m pregnant?”

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It’s been ten years since my death, and Rachel, the fiancée I abandoned, has returned to the country as a scam kingpin to expand her operations. Her first target is my family. After swindling my family out of their property, cutting off their limbs to pay debts, and handing my sister over to a sadist, she’s disappointed that I still haven’t come to arrest her. Furious, she thinks I must be hiding somewhere again. Just as she’s considering whether to leak photos of my family online to force me out, one of her subordinates informs her, “Boss, he died ten years ago.” “He was caught for dereliction of duty and killed in prison by criminals he’d previously arrested.” “His body is still there. Do you want us to dig it up and desecrate it?” The luxurious office is dead silent. A bird perched on a branch curiously peers at the figure inside but is startled away by a sudden sound. The hunched figure slowly kneels down, while Rachel sits in her chair, looking down at his movements with disdain. “Rachel, please, uncle knows you’re capable. Give the money back to uncle, I’m begging you,” the man pleads. Rachel casually blows on her perfectly manicured nails. “Uncle, weren’t you quite wealthy before? You could throw around $10,000 to hurt people, but now you can’t even come up with a few thousand? What happened?” she asks with malicious intent. “Did you spend all the money you made from selling me out? Look at you now, reduced to begging on your knees.” Watching my father kneel on the ground, kowtowing to someone else, I feel a piercing pain in my heart. I reach out to stop him, to make him get up. My father, always so proud, how could he kneel and kowtow to someone else? But my outstretched hand passes through his body. That’s right, I’m dead. It’s been ten years, and I still haven’t gotten used to it. I laugh bitterly, helpless to do anything but watch as my father kowtows until his forehead bleeds. He can barely speak clearly but still hopes Rachel will return the money. “Please, I’m begging you, please…” Rachel smirks contemptuously and deliberately takes out a few $10 bills, slapping them on his face. “Fine, consider this my charity to you.” “Tell your son I’m back, and this is what he owes me.” “I’ll collect this debt bit by bit.” “Now get out.” I watch as the man who had been proud and strong all his life lowers his head, picking up those humiliating bills, and then says, “Can you give a little more?” My tears fall instantly. Watching him stumble away, the pain of helplessness envelops me, leaving me breathless. I look at Rachel. She’s changed, become more unfamiliar.

I follow Rachel back to her home. For some reason, I can’t leave her side, forced to go wherever she goes. There’s a noise inside the house. Rachel becomes alert. The next moment, a familiar face emerges from the kitchen carrying a plate. My gaze sharpens. It’s Derek, the scam kingpin, my old nemesis. Seeing him, Rachel instantly drops all her defenses. Like a swallow returning to its nest, she throws herself into his arms with complete dependence. “Derek, why are you here?” Derek smiles indulgently, “You’re back in the country, of course I had to come see you. I still have food on the stove.” “No, I won’t let go,” Rachel pouts, her eyes shining with a light reserved only for those she trusts most. She used to look at me like that too. We were childhood sweethearts, and I was the person she trusted most. Back then, I was the only one in her eyes. My heart aches with a dense, gnawing pain, as if being eaten by ants. Derek helplessly moves to the dining table in this position, casually bringing up, “I heard you went to see someone?” Rachel grins proudly, “Yes, Jack’s father came begging me. I even threw money in his face to humiliate him.” Derek’s smile falters slightly before returning to normal. “Do you still remember Jack?” Rachel puffs up angrily, “Back then, their whole family ruined me so badly, I won’t let them off, especially that Jack. I’ll make him lose everything.” I look at Rachel. She’s still as grudge-holding as she was when we were young. Probably even if someone told her I was dead now, she wouldn’t believe it. She’d likely think it was another of my tricks to deceive her. That’s fair. I did deceive her. She trusted me so much; it’s right for her to hate me.

Rachel waited for a few days but found that no one came looking for her. Getting angrier the more she thought about it, she stormed over to my house with a group of people. But only my mother, now half-paralyzed, was at home. Apart from an old wooden bed and some simple odds and ends, there was nothing else in this small room, let alone a place to hide someone. “What’s the point of having a son like this? It’s no different from not having one at all. Your mom is half-paralyzed in bed, your dad has become a cripple, and he still doesn’t come back.” Rachel looks at the run-down room with disgust, pinching her nose against the odor, and launches into a barrage of mockery. “We treated you like our own daughter since you were little. When Jack wasn’t around, you were the one who kept us company. How did you become like this?” my mother, with half of her body immobile, struggles to sit up on the bed, trying to grab Rachel’s clothes, her voice choked with emotion as she asks why. Rachel rudely slaps away her hand. “Don’t touch me with your dirty hands. I should thank your son for what I’ve become!” “If he hadn’t sold me out, I wouldn’t be as rich as I am today. Being rich really does feel good. No wonder you liked to throw money around to hurt people.” “If you have any way to contact your son, go ahead and do it. Doesn’t he hate criminals the most? I’ll face him head-on!” My mother hesitates for a moment but remains silent. Rachel, however, takes this as her having nothing to say and becomes even angrier. “Trash the place!” she orders. The people she brought with her start smashing the few remaining broken bowls, chopsticks, tables, and chairs in the house. My mother, wrapped in tattered quilts, tries desperately to stop them but can’t move far. Seeing this miserable scene, I feel a lump in my throat. It’s my fault. Years ago, Rachel was brainwashed by a scam organization, firmly believing she could make big money. She even invited us to join. My father threw $10,000 at her, telling her never to come to our house again. My mother remained silent. In the end, persuaded by Rachel, I joined the organization. She trusted me completely and told me everything. So when I personally led the team to arrest her, she couldn’t believe it. The last glance I saw as she left was filled with venomous hatred. I knew she would come back, but I didn’t expect her hatred to be so intense. Ten years hadn’t made her forget; instead, she remembered even more deeply. Rachel, seeing the already shabby room become even more wrecked, felt some of her anger dissipate. “Tell your son to come back quickly. Otherwise, your whole family won’t have peace. Let’s go,” she says. My mother presses her lips tightly, glaring hatefully as Rachel leaves. Rachel casually kicks away some debris blocking her path and struts out in her high heels. I kneel beside my mother, wanting to hug her, begging her not to be so stubborn anymore. But she can’t hear me. She takes out a yellowed photograph from under her pillow and mumbles, “Jack, she wants to know, but we won’t tell her. That’s what she gets for becoming so evil.” Tears blur my vision. I’m not a good son. I don’t deserve this. I thought they had long forgotten about me.

Rachel is no longer the kind-hearted person she once was. The scam organization is not a good place; it’s a living hell. She has sunk deeper and deeper, even her heart has grown cold and hard. She doesn’t care if my mother is paralyzed in bed or if my father is disabled. She only wants money. When she swings the knife to cut off my parents’ limbs, I am completely devastated. Rachel watches the people lying in pools of blood with an expressionless face. She waves her hand to call her subordinates, “Find a back-alley doctor to give them a couple of shots. As long as they don’t die, it’s fine.” I keep shouting in rage, passing through her body. I want to strangle her. She’s not human anymore. I’m the one who did wrong, why do my parents have to bear the consequences? Watching my parents being carelessly given a couple of shots to stop the bleeding and then left there, I break down. I wish I could be the one lying there, hovering between life and death. No matter how cruel, as long as my parents are okay. “Boss, this needle was just used by a drug addict. Is that okay?” the shady doctor rubs his hands, looking a bit embarrassed. I rush over to punch that shameless face. Our family can’t afford to treat AIDS now. He’s going to kill my parents. Rachel smiles, “It’s fine. They’re old anyway. Without hands and feet, they won’t live for many more years.” She takes a drag on her cigarette. “Whatever medicine you use, make sure they live for at least a year.” I know why she says this. Because in the past, I would see her at least once a year. After failing to get into the police academy, she thought I was working outside. But that wasn’t true. I was undercover. So she never knew my real identity. Actually, I wish I had really failed back then. Then I wouldn’t have had to watch her go down the wrong path. I really made a mistake. I betrayed her for myself, and then betrayed my oath for her. In the end, I lost everything. This must be my retribution. Looking at my parents’ pale faces from blood loss and the empty spaces where their hands and feet should be, I desperately pound my head. I’m not a good son. I wish they had never given birth to me. Then they wouldn’t have to suffer such a cruel fate in their old age. I don’t know how long it’s been, but my father regains consciousness. Seeing Rachel, he trembles with anger, unable to utter a word. “What’s wrong, uncle? Did you have a stroke in your old age?” Rachel asks mockingly. “That’s too bad. Do you have money for treatment? I’m afraid you can only wait for death now.” She laughs wildly, then covers her mouth in mock surprise. “Oh my, I forgot to tell you, uncle. The needle used for the injection might have been used by a drug addict before. Who knows if you’ll get sick?” “Isn’t that terrible? It seems you can’t afford treatment anyway.” Rachel shakes her head in feigned pity. My father’s eyes bulge with rage. He wants to fight her to the death but can’t move an inch. He can only stare at her fiercely, but when he sees my mother beside him, tears start to fall. I’ve never seen my father cry before. This is the first time. He struggles to move his body closer to my mother, leaning against her and silently weeping. Tears fall from his aged face, his already graying hair now even whiter. Rachel narrows her eyes, “Uncle, don’t blame me for being heartless. How about this? If you apologize for what happened before, I’ll give you a dose of preventive medicine. How about that?” She stands still, clearly wanting my father to crawl to her feet. I’ve seen through her now. She’s a complete psychopath, a cold-blooded monster. No matter how much I want to help my father, I can only helplessly pass through him. Watching him struggle to get off the bed, falling heavily to the ground, only able to slowly crawl towards Rachel’s feet with his remaining limbs, leaving a long trail of blood. “I beg you, please…” “Uncle, your voice is too soft. I can’t hear you. Why don’t you lift your head?” Rachel says maliciously. My father trembles as he lifts his head, in a ridiculous posture. But my mother can’t laugh. Already weak, seeing her husband in such a humiliating state, coupled with the massive blood loss, she faints. My father turns back to see this and lets out a heart-wrenching cry, trying to rush over to her. Rachel impatiently covers her ears, “What’s wrong with you? Why are you screaming so horribly? Hey, don’t let them die.” The doctor who had been watching from the side goes over to save them. Rachel purses her lips in boredom and walks out in her high heels.

She drives to the seaside and lights a cigarette. In the sea breeze, the smoke is hazy, dispersing with the wind. I don’t understand why she still looks so melancholic when she’s already done such extreme things. She stubs out the burnt-out cigarette and takes out a photo from her phone case. It’s a picture of me and her. I thought she had thrown it away long ago. After all, it’s been ten years. The photo shows signs of being torn apart before, but it has been pieced back together. She smokes and cries, cursing my name at the sea. “Jack, you’re a dog, an ungrateful bastard, a fool who doesn’t know how to make money.” “Be a loser for life, you’ll die in some godforsaken corner with no one to bury you. All you know is how to be a cop, too cowardly to show your face, you coward!” I sit beside her, listening to her grievances. I owe her a lot. As she wished, I’m dead. I don’t know if anyone buried me. Maybe I’ve been dismembered. After all, those criminals hated me to the bone, wishing I’d die without a proper burial. Rachel sits there for a long time until her phone rings with a text message. “Is my gift ready?” I’m a bit curious. Is she going to attend a birthday party? Rachel starts the car and heads in a direction. As the road becomes more and more familiar, I finally realize—she’s going to find Emily! I desperately try to stop her, not wanting her to find Emily. Emily is an orphan I used to support. She has intellectual disabilities and has always lived in the orphanage. When she arrives, Emily has just finished class and is playing in the yard. Seeing Rachel, she happily rushes over to hug her, “Rachel, big sister!” Although it’s been ten years since they last met, Emily still remembers her. “Jack, where’s big brother?” Emily curiously looks behind Rachel. Rachel looks at her with complex emotions, “He’s not here. Do you want to leave with me?” Emily happily nods and skips off to find the orphanage director. “She’s yours now.” Rachel releases Emily’s hand and pushes her towards the man in front of her. The man gropes Emily up and down, a look of satisfaction on his face. “Rachel, big sister…” Emily struggles desperately, but is slapped by the man, leaving a clear handprint on her face. Rachel coldly watches this scene, “Don’t blame me. Blame that brother of yours. This is what happens when you’re associated with him.” “Since he still hasn’t shown up, I’ll force him out.” After saying this, she calls her subordinates to set up cameras. “Remember, full coverage, no blind spots. I want that man to know the consequences of offending me.” She slowly adds, “Do whatever you want with her, just one thing—record everything.” Thinking about how Jack will be heartbroken watching the video, Rachel’s eyes curve in a smile, feeling somewhat happy. The broken scenes cause me pain. Emily is like my daughter, the child of my comrade. I couldn’t save my comrade, and now I can’t even protect his child. I close my eyes, wanting to escape, but Emily’s painful cries pierce my ears. It’s my fault. I’ve been dead for ten years, but death is no excuse for me to escape. This is my retribution. My heart is like dead wood, already numb.

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I am Ethan Fuller’s girlfriend, the heir to a wealthy family. Ethan is bold and handsome; I am shy and demure. Everyone thinks I’m not good enough for him and is waiting for us to break up. I feel the same way and have long been prepared to leave. Recently, his beautiful and accomplished ex-girlfriend has returned from abroad, Yet he proposed to me… It was already 11:30 at night when I finished getting ready for bed. Just then, I received a call from Ethan’s friend: “Tina, Ethan’s drunk. Can you come pick him up?” Before I could respond, he hung up. They were so sure I would come. And they were right. As soon as the call ended, I quickly changed and headed out to the bar to pick him up. But remembering the content of Ethan’s friends’ social media posts, my heart ached a little. [Welcome back, Rosalyn! Congrats on completing your studies abroad!] [Did she come back for her old flame? — Yes, she did!] [Can’t believe we’re about to witness the reunion of a perfect couple!] All these posts, so lively and excited, were just showcasing Rosalyn’s excellence and how well-matched she and Ethan were. Even though they knew I was Ethan’s girlfriend, and that I could see all of this. But they didn’t care, because it was Rosalyn! Ethan’s ex-girlfriend, the beauty queen of A University, and the heiress of the Lin Group. I was also a student at A University, and I had heard all about their passionate love story. Now that she’s back, should I step aside?

When I arrived at the bar, Ethan was already lying on the couch, half-asleep. When everyone saw me, they casually said, “Tina’s here. We were having a good time, and Ethan had a bit too much to drink.” “Of course we’re happy. Rosalyn’s back, and I heard she’s going to work at Ethan’s company…” Someone nudged the person who was speaking. That person shrugged carelessly, looking at me with a hint of challenge in his eyes, completely disregarding me as Ethan’s girlfriend. Ethan’s friends had never liked me, I knew that from the first time we met. Because I was just too ordinary and well-behaved. I smiled faintly, pretending not to care. I walked over to Ethan and gently patted his cheek. Ethan opened his eyes groggily, and seeing it was me, he sat up with a silly grin and hugged me, nuzzling against me. “Oh, my little wifey is here! My wife came to pick me up!” Drunk Ethan was burning hot, and the alcohol on his breath made me a bit uncomfortable. I skillfully took out the thermos I always carried and unscrewed the cap, handing it to him. “Have some honey water.” Ethan held my hand as he took a sip. “Sweet, so sweet, but not as sweet as my wife!” I blushed at his straightforward words. Even after three years together, I still wasn’t used to his outgoing personality. The others laughed along, “Sister-in-law is so thoughtful!” They only called me “sister-in-law” in front of Ethan. Ethan hugged me proudly, showing off, “Are you jealous?” “I… haha… wouldn’t dare.” It was clearly a forced laugh. They weren’t jealous at all. They disliked boring girls like me the most. I had heard Ethan’s friends complain more than once: “I really don’t know what Ethan likes about Tina. She’s just average-looking, with a dull personality. She can’t compare to Rosalyn at all.” “Yeah, Tina is just too obedient and well-behaved, like plain water. If I were with her, I’d be bored in three days.” “Maybe Ethan just got bored and found a little housekeeper for fun. But I have to say, Tina does take good care of Ethan.” “Of course she does. If she couldn’t even be a good housekeeper, what right would she have to stay by Ethan’s side?” “Hahaha… that’s true.” … I tugged at Ethan’s sleeve. “It’s late, let’s go home!” “Okay, whatever my wife says!” I supported the stumbling Ethan as we stood up. As we reached the door, he suddenly turned around and announced with a grin, “You guys all have to come to my wedding!” “Sure, sure…” Still just polite small talk. I also knew that his friends had a betting pool going on when we would break up. Some bet on one month, others on three months, with the longest bet not exceeding six months. Now, three years have passed. Not only have Ethan and I not broken up, but he proposed to me three days ago. However, today, Ethan’s ex-girlfriend Rosalyn arrived in the city. I don’t know if our wedding will still happen as planned.

I was driving Ethan home. My car was a top-of-the-line Volvo, but the high-performance SUV moved like a snail in my hands. Ethan, who had been drowsy at the bar, was now sitting in the passenger seat, staring intently at me. I felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze. “Why are you staring at me?” “It’s my right to look at my wife however I want.” I pouted, feeling a bit frustrated. “If you think I’m driving too slow, just say so.” “I don’t mind. Slow is fine, safety first! We’re taking our relationship slow anyway, step by step. You’re off tomorrow, so we’re not in a hurry.” Ethan patted my thigh. “I just feel really safe sitting in your car.” During a red light, I turned to look at Ethan. He was truly handsome, the most good-looking man I’d seen in my 27 years of life. Ethan had deep-set eyes, dark pupils, and long, delicate eyelashes. Looking into his eyes was like being drawn into an endless wilderness. Seeing me staring at him, Ethan smiled mischievously. “What, are you mesmerized by your husband’s good looks?” I calmly asked, “Why were you so happy today?” “I’m getting married to my little wife, of course I’m happy.” Is that so? But Rosalyn came back today, isn’t that worth being happy about too? I stared at him intently. “Ethan, are you sure? About marrying me?” “Of course! What, are you having second thoughts?” I smiled bitterly. “I’m afraid you’ll regret it.” Ethan suddenly sat up straight, looking at me with sincere eyes: “Tina, you have no idea how happy I am to marry you!” I smiled slightly, meeting his hazy, drunken gaze. I couldn’t quite make out the depth of emotion in his eyes.

I’m not good enough for Ethan. That’s everyone’s unanimous opinion. Ethan is the heir to the Fuller Group, born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He’s bold and unrestrained, with an unyielding spirit. Because of his background, he’s always been the center of attention wherever he goes. Ethan is also very good-looking, with sharp features, a high nose bridge, and a chiseled jawline. His deep-set eyes and thin lips would not be out of place even among the handsome actors in the entertainment industry. As for me, I’m just an ordinary girl from a middle-class family. I followed the usual path of going to school and finding a stable job after graduation, just like most people. My looks are also average. Among the beautiful women in the circle of wealthy heirs, I could at best be described as demure and gentle. Compared to those stunning beauties, I’m really not much to look at. If I had to say what my strong point is, it would be that I’m obedient and well-behaved. That’s why everyone disapproves of my relationship with Ethan. After all, Ethan’s ex-girlfriend Rosalyn was truly stunning, and the difference between us is obvious. My meeting with Ethan was completely accidental. My mother runs a small convenience store near A University. During that time, my mother wasn’t feeling well, so I helped out at the store in the evenings. That night, Ethan came to buy cigarettes. He was wearing a hat and a mask, so I didn’t recognize him. I was getting him some water when suddenly a crazed man rushed in, holding a knife to me and fiercely demanding, “Give me the money!” It was my first time encountering a robbery, and I was terrified. I trembled as I tried to explain, “Sir, please calm down. We use mobile payments now, we don’t have…” “Shut up!” The man was clearly mentally unstable and lunged at me with the knife. At that moment, Ethan suddenly intervened, grabbing the knife with one hand and kicking the attacker away. Ethan swiftly subdued the frenzied man. Then, I immediately called the police and gave my statement. It was only when answering the police’s questions that I realized he was the famous Ethan Fuller. The campus heartthrob of A University, a prominent figure, and the heir to a wealthy family. After the police left, I saw his bloody palm and felt terrible. After all, he got hurt while saving me. I clumsily bandaged his hand, repeatedly thanking him. Perhaps seeing me being so polite, Ethan jokingly said, “If you’re so grateful, why don’t you marry me?” “Huh?” I must have looked really dumb at that moment because Ethan’s smile was dazzlingly bright. That’s how Ethan and I met. Later, on a certain day, he very seriously asked me if I wanted to be his girlfriend. I think I must have liked Ethan. He was excellent, attentive, and never showed the arrogance of a rich heir in front of me. He respected me and cared for me. If it weren’t for the various filters placed on him by campus legends and his wealthy background, Ethan would really be a great boyfriend. I thought, even if we were destined to break up in the future, it wouldn’t be a loss to have dated someone like him. I agreed. If there was a second time in my life when I was brave and willful, it was becoming Ethan’s girlfriend. Unexpectedly, three years have passed in the blink of an eye. I glanced at the sleeping man beside me. He unconsciously wrapped his arm around my waist, seemingly lost in a sweet dream, smacking his lips and snuggling closer to me. I told myself: It’s okay, Tina. Even if we break up, it’s okay. It never belonged to you in the first place, so losing it is inevitable.

My body clock was very stable. No matter what time I went to bed the night before, I would always wake up on time the next morning. I moved Ethan’s arm from my waist, got up to wash, and made breakfast. I was just putting the hot soy milk on the table when I heard Ethan’s voice from the bedroom. “Okay, okay… I got it, I’ll be back at noon.” “Alright, I’ll bring her.” “Fine, fine, please don’t interfere.” “Mom, I’m serious…” I peeked into the room, craning my neck. I saw Ethan hang up the phone, toss it aside, and rub his hair in frustration. He looked up and met my curious eyes, beckoning to me like he was calling a puppy. “Come here.” I obediently shuffled over. He suddenly hugged me, turned me sideways, and pressed me onto the bed, showering me with kisses and pinches. I panicked and tried to dodge, stammering, “You… haven’t… brushed your teeth!” “You’re disgusted by me!” I grumbled unhappily. He didn’t care and bit me again, “Alright, I’ll listen to my wife. I’ll go wash up.” I stared at Ethan’s back as he hummed while brushing his teeth and washing his face, lost in thought. Setting aside others’ judgments and simply examining our relationship, he seemed to truly love me. After washing up, Ethan looked refreshed. A few drops of water still clung to his jaw, flowing down his neck, over his prominent Adam’s apple, leaving a faint water trail… “Are you mesmerized by your husband’s good looks?” I turned away shyly and poured him a glass of soy milk. “Freshly made this morning, no sugar added.” “Even without sugar, anything my wife makes is super sweet.” Such a smooth talker. We sat down to eat breakfast, and Ethan suddenly said, “Come home with me at noon today.” “Huh?” I was a bit reluctant. Ethan laughed, “What are you afraid of? The ugly bride has to meet the in-laws eventually.” “I know, it’s just…” I was just a bit afraid of Ethan’s mother. Ethan held my hand, reassuring me, “Don’t be scared. I’m the one marrying you, not my mom. We won’t be living together anyway, we’ll just have dinner together on holidays. As long as we can maintain a cordial relationship, don’t feel too pressured.” I forced a smile but sighed inwardly. He had no idea of my worries.

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